₦airaland Forum

ACN has proved better leadership capacity, says Tinubu

WEDNESDAY, 15 DECEMBER 2010 00:00 BY SEYE OLUMIDE AND CHIKA GOODLUCK-OGAZI NEWS - NATIONAL 

FORMER governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Tinubu, on Monday said the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has, in its leadership style, shown the country its capacity and commitment to transforming the nation both on economic and political fronts.
Speaking at the Presidential Lounge of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, in Lagos on Monday, Tinubu said: “We are using ACN to really show our capacity and commitment to developing all our states and many other states across the country”.

Reacting to the governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala’s interview said to have been published in The Sun recently, Tinubu noted that the interview dealt with the issues quite clearly, but said: “I don’t think he (Alao-Akala) has studied the environment, the political situation in Oyo State”.

Alao-Akala was quoted to have said in the interview that Tinubu is not a native of Oyo State and as such, cannot direct the political affairs of Oyo.

“I think he (Tinubu) has the right to do whatever he likes in Osun because I believe he is from Osun. He can also do that in Ekiti because I learnt he has some relatives too in Ekiti. But here in Oyo, we don’t know him and he has no political structure here.
“And I also know what I’m doing. If he knows what he is doing, I know what I am doing and I know what I’m saying. Oyo is a no-go-area for him. Please, when you want to talk about Tinubu, in relation to ACN, let us talk about ACN and not about Tinubu because (he) has nobody here in Oyo”, the governor was quoted to have said.

Reacting further, Tinubu noted that Oyo is the historical political headquarters of the Yoruba and everything that we experienced since my childhood is the fact that Oyo has come up with the first in everything, including the Liberty Stadium. It was the first in Africa then.

The former Lagos governor alleged that “ever since the Alao-Akala type of politics came in, the entire Oyo State has been regressing, that is the truth. They have brought wanton destruction to the spirit of our people, they have never had a focus.

If you look at it since 1999, the foundation laid by Lam Adesina was a progressive one.
Then look at it since 2003, are you not happy coming to Lagos? Are you happy getting to Ibadan and seeing how dirty and how unkempt the infrastructure there are? We are talking about development programme in politics, we are not talking amala politics of Alao-Akala”.
Meanwhile, Director-General of the Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reform (CODER), Mr. Ayo Opadokun, has said the alleged plot against Tinubu may have been a fall-out of his dogged stance for true federalism.

Opadokun, who spoke at a lecture in Lagos, insisted that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) still wants Tinubu decimated for daring to insist on the right of the states to create local councils with or without federal support, as well as denying PDP hawks under his watch the opportunity to capture Lagos as they did in other South-West states in 2003 and 2007.
He spoke alongside the Editorial Board Chairman of The Nation, Sam Omatseye and an ACN chieftain, Bunmi Omoseyindemi.
They discussed the theme: “Ideal Democratic Tenets: The Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Phenomenon”.       
Omatseye described Tinubu as a “21st Century Abraham Lincoln , and a man with the psychology of a (democratic) fighter.

http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32352:acn-has-proved-better-leadership-capacity-says-tinubu-&catid=1:national&Itemid=559

Foreign airlines decry decay of Lagos airport facilities

WEDNESDAY, 15 DECEMBER 2010 00:00 BY WOLE SHADARE AND CHIKA GOODLUCK OGAZI NEWS - NATIONAL

FOREIGN airlines operating in the country on Monday frowned at the weak state of the nation’s airports, appealing to the Federal Government to quicken the refurbishment of all the international airports in the country.
The operators, among which are British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Air France-KLM, Delta, Ethiopian Airways, Kenya Airways, Iberia and Emirates, expressed concern over the facilities, particularly at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
They spoke at a meeting with the Minister of Aviation, Fidelia Njeze, held with foreign airlines in Lagos on Monday with a view to proffering solutions to the problems confronting their operations.
Njeze had, after her opening speech, ordered journalists to leave the meeting room to the surprise of stakeholders who felt that there was nothing to hide since the meeting to which journalists were invited, was meant to find solutions to the airport’s infrastructure decay.
Some of the foreign operators, who hinted The Guardian of what transpired at the meeting, said they told the minister to find urgent solution to the epileptic carousel at the Arrival Hall of the airport.
They also lamented the lack of space to carry out proper checking, maintaining that the terminal is too congested to carry out good airline services at the Lagos airport.
In her reaction, the minister was said to have told the operators that the government had approved the commencement of the refurbishment of five airport terminal buildings in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt and Enugu.
Njeze was said to have told the operators that her office was inundated with complaints of lost baggage that has become heavily associated with foreign airlines, adding that she had instructed the Consumer Protection Directorate of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to ensure that the passengers are given best attention.
According to her, between January and September, the consumer protection unit received approximately 46,998 complaints pertaining to lost baggage, flight delays and cancellations, poor in-flight service, high ticket sales charge and discourteous airline personnel.
“May I use this opportunity to appeal to operators to remind their personnel on the need for proper treatment of passengers, especially Nigerians, wherever they may be”, Njeze said.
She called on the airlines to help in the development of Nigeria’s aviation industry, rather than the huge capital flight, occasioned by lack of competition from Nigerian airlines.

http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32347:foreign-airlines-decry-decay-of-lagos-airport-facilities&catid=1:national&Itemid=559

[b]Yet another death by police bulle[/b]t

WEDNESDAY, 15 DECEMBER 2010 00:00 BY DAVID IBEMERE NEWS - METRO 

Angry youths protest alleged police killing in Lagos of a football fan in a viewing centre
TWENTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD Ismail Sanni was a fan of Arsenal Football Club.
When, therefore, Arsenal was billed to play Manchester United at Old Trafford, Ismail made certain he did not miss any of the actions.
He had gone ahead earlier that Monday to book a place at a viewing centre at Onishape Street, Amukoko, in the Lagos Mainland.
Had he known, Ismail, a motorcycle repairer, would not have gone near the centre and he would have been alive to watch future matches by Arsenal.
However, like many others, he went to watch the match but did not leave the centre alive.
He was, at about 8.45p.m., shot dead, allegedly by a policeman, where he sat watching the match while Sanyo Tiamiyu, Sunday Jimoh, Abiodun Ibrahim were injured by bullets fired by the same policeman.
He said: “We were at the last seat in the viewing centre when we heard the sound of gun shots outside.
“Not knowing what was happening we all ran out.
“When we were all outside, I noticed Ismail was not with us and I shouted his name. We then ran back inside and saw that he was lying in a pool of his own blood.
“We immediately rushed him to Jormark Hospital in the area where the doctor confirmed him dead,” he lamented
He continued: “Ismail was a good person and it is difficult to accept he died through such an unfortunate incident.”
One of the victims, who was shot in the hand, Abiodun Ibrahim told The Guardian:  “I was shot in the hand where I was sitting watching the match. But when we went outside to ask the policemen what was happening, one of them began shooting in the air to scare us.”
He gave the name of the policeman as Sergeant Hakeem from Pako Police Station Amukoko. 
Amidst tears, the father of the deceased, Ralimon Sanni described his son as “ a humble young man who minded his business and tried to be friendly with everyone who came his way.
“ When he was younger, he was not very good in school, so he opted to learn how to repair motorcycles.
“My son cannot die just like that. It is terrible that my son has become one of the innocent but unlucky Nigerians to be killed by policemen.”
The news of Ismail’s death sparked off violence as angry youths took to the streets.
When they tried but failed to gain entry into the police station, they turned on vehicles parked along the streets, smashing windscreens and slashing tyres.
The youths are claiming the policemen were drunk and had emerged from a hotel in the area before the shots rang out.
Efforts to speak with the Divisional Police officer proved abortive due to the heavy presence of armed policemen in the area.
Speaking to The Guardian on the matter in a telephone interview, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Frank Mba said the matter was under investigation.
He said information available indicated there was a distress call from a resident in the area, which the policemen responded to, during which they were confronted by a mob of young boys in the area.
He said it was during the effort by the policemen to get out of the situation they found themselves that shots were unfortunately fired from their rifle.
He described the incident as unfortunate, even as he called  on residents in the area to remain calm as the matter would be thoroughly investigated.
On the allegation that Sergeant Hakeem shot the deceased, Mba said; “It is wrong to jump to conclusions that one of the two policemen fired the bullet without a forensic test. “When the test has been carried out the real culprit will be dealt with accordingly.”
He disclosed that the two police officers had been detained and that appropriate sanctions will be taken if anyone of them is found guilty.

http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32363:yet-another-death-by-police-bullet&catid=3:metro&Itemid=558

Cost of governance is crippling the economy, says Musa

WEDNESDAY, 15 DECEMBER 2010 00:00 FROM SAXONE AKHAINE, KADUNA FEATURES - POLICY & POLITICS

The chairman of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) and former Governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa told SAXONE AKHAINE in Kaduna that there are reasons for the average Nigerian to worry ahead of the 2011 election. He is however optimistic that the country has learnt how to wriggle out of tight situations. Excerpts:
HOW did you feel when you heard of how much of the national budget goes to the federal lawmakers?
We saw this happening during the Second Republic, and in my own case when I was governor of Kaduna, I cried to the press over the threat posed by the National Assembly in deciding their remunerations and fringe benefits. I shouted at the top of my voice at press conferences and wrote several reports alerting the nation to this danger the situation posed.
This happened after we gave President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari our support at the National Economic Council meeting. He failed to control the members of the National Assembly then, and as a result they got away with what they demanded. And that opened the floodgate of decay and the situation we are facing now, including this corruption by the legislators.

Some people have pointed to the immorality of the legislators in spending so much on their benefits, when millions of Nigerians are living below poverty line?
The percentage involved may even be understatement when the nation digs deeper into it. Remember, the body that made that allegation is the Central Bank. And the CBN and the Ministry of Finance know this more than any Nigerian; they know the truth about the cost of governance in the country more than any Nigerian or institution.
So, we have to trust what they say, unless it can be contradicted by anybody and with proof. We should assume that what the Governor of the Central Bank has said is true. He is the ones that should know more than anyone else in Nigeria.

Does it make any point comparing the cost of keeping a legislator to what he or she contributes to national development and growth?
No, because we have civil rule. You have to stay under this civil rule and not democracy. First, it is not only the legislators this are involved in this, but also the executives, at every level in the country. If you find out very well, you may find that in fact the executives at the national level spend and cost the nation far more than the legislators. The truth is that in Nigeria, both the legislators and the executives are arrogantly and inhumanly helping themselves from public funds. They are serving themselves instead of serving the public.
This truth will be found if there is a judicial commission of inquiry over what this present civilian administration costs Nigeria. And particularly over what the Executive and the Legislative arms of government costs the country. Of course this commission of inquiry is the function of the executive arm and since they are involved in this racket, they will not institute it.

What is the consequence to the national economy and the development of Nigeria if this extravagance is not redressed?
It will resort to eventual and total collapse of the economy. And we are already seeing it. The educational system is collapsing, the medical services are collapsing, and the same applies to security. Virtually, all aspects of government is collapsing, while few people in government and the lawmakers are helping themselves with the nation’s money.
They are living in opulence when Nigerians and the economy are crying for revival. This cannot happen in a civilised society. And it is because of this situation that we have high level of crimes in the country.

How can the situation be salvaged?
Under a proper government, we expect this to be solved by a combination of the actions of government, the executive and the legislature. But because of the level of irresponsibility in this country we cannot expect it. It will be foolish to expect that things will be corrected just like that and by people involved in the matter.
Something must happen to deal with the obstruction in the way of progress in the country.

The governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have threatened to leave the party if President Goodluck Jonathan should assent to the amended Electoral Bill. What is your assessment of this situation?
Well, I can say that there is nothing wrong in members of the National Assembly being members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of their respective parties. But, in this case what is wrong is that they are going to outnumber all other members of the NEC. They may even be the only members of the NEC.
Take for example, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has over 300 members of the National Assembly.
Now, what kind of NEC would have that number as members? And if they are members, how many others can also be members? So, it means the members of the National Assembly constitute the NEC of the party, and certainly it is not democratic. And no party can tolerate it. But, it is surprising that the PDP seems to be in favour of it. You know, the opposition is only coming from the governors.
I also want to explain that I said that there is nothing wrong in the legislators being members of the NEC of the party because the 63 political parties have provision for members of the National Assembly being members of their NEC, but certainly it should not be all of them.
There is a criterion, which makes only limited members to be part of the NEC, so that they don’t constitute the committee members alone. For example, in the constitution of the Peoples Republican Party (PRP), members of the National Assembly are members of the NEC. But, we expect not more than between 20 or 30 of such members at our present level. This number can be contained. But, for a party like the PDP, how can you have members of the NEC numbering more than 300? That is the situation they have found themselves.

Why do you think the PDP governors are the only ones opposing the proposal?
Well, in the first place the governors are very influential in the PDP, not only in the PDP really but as well as in other political parties. But, they now see this influence being taken over by the members of the National Assembly.
They are therefore afraid that they might lose influence in the party. If this becomes the norm, then the governors will take a second place after the members of the National Assembly. At the moment, it is the governors. But despite the number of the lawmakers, the governors will continue to be influential in terms of providing funds. But, the numerical strength of the members of the National Assembly can sometimes override the financial power of the governors.

How can this situation be contained to foster democracy?
First, I should advise that the 63 political parties should oppose this amendment to make the members of the National Assembly automatic members of the NEC of political parties.
It is not just workable; it will transform the parties into organs of the National Assembly. When you take away the issue of power struggle between the governors and the National Assembly, there is also another implication, and that is maybe an attempt to make sure that the 2011 election doesn’t take place. It also makes things very difficult for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which has already released the timetable for the 2011 elections. This timetable calls for party primaries.
As things are now, members of the National Assembly are not automatic members of the NEC of their parties. And the members of the NEC are automatic delegates for the primaries and that is the provision of the constitutions of all the parties. Now, if parties hold their primaries with that number of the National Assembly members, for instance, in the case of the PDP where the number is large, it means after the primaries someone will go to court in the PDP if some people didn’t participate say at states and national levels. The person can simply say that the primary was not conducted according to the law, which says that members of the National Assembly are members of the NEC, who are delegates to the primary.
So, the primary that produced candidates was not properly conducted according to the law and it is void. This means everything will be back to square one and the primary will be repeated. We will simply stumble from one confusing situation to the other and ultimately it will be impossible to hold election in April 2011. There is that implication. May be we are all been played with or tricked by a conspiracy within the PDP in particular not to hold the election in 2011. They know very well that if the election does not hold by 2011, the President and the governors will continue and the National Assembly will amend the constitution to provide for them also to continue.


http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32391:cost-of-governance-is-crippling-the-economy-says-musa&catid=73:policy-a-politics&Itemid=607

Kidnapping: MAN demands state of emergency in S-East

NewsDec 15, 2010

By Tony Edike

ENUGU — THE Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, yesterday, called on President Goodluck Jonathan to declare a state of emergency in three notorious South East states of Abia, Anambra and Imo and replace the governors with military sole administrators as a radical measure to address the failure of the state governors to provide security for lives and property in the zone.
The call came against the backdrop of the kidnap of the Managing Director of JUHEL Nigeria Limited, Dr. Ifeanyi Okoye, by unknown persons along Okigwe–Umunna road on his way to Owerri airport on December 8. Reports said yesterday that his abductors were yet to contact members of his family, a development that has caused anxiety within his family.
Chairman of MAN Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states chapter, Dr. Chike Obidigbo, who addressed a news conference in Enugu over the abduction of  Okoye, who was former Chairman of the association, blamed the multiplication of crimes in the South East zone on the  failure of the governors to address the growing unemployment problems as well as their indifference to the strike by Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, which has kept the undergraduates out of the universities for more than six months
He said that the governors of the zone appear to be enjoying the kidnapping saga, alleging that they stand as indirect beneficiaries of the crime since according to him when everyone runs away as most manufacturers in the zone are doing, the governors would be free to continue with the alleged pillaging of the economy in which they showed little interest in its growth.
His words: “We call on the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, to take urgent and all necessary steps to declare state of emergency in the three notorious South East states of Abia, Anambra and Imo. Their governments should be replaced without any further delay by Military Administrators while their administration should be subjected to EFCC scrutiny.
“The state of emergency has since become overdue.  We know it has been delayed merely out of sentiment. If we wait further, more people will be punished unnecessarily and none of the governments of the three states has demonstrated meaningful capacity to combat crime even at its most rudimentary level.”
“Any governnmenmt that has failed so woefully to provide security for her citizens with their properties and investments is like salt without flavor.  Any government that has failed to create sustainable employment and in the same vein failed to create adequate and appropriate enabling environment and infrastructure for private operators to assist, has equally failed.
“Any government that toys with the education and empowerment of her youths, thereby reducing the future of the people to mere4 compost has no reason to remain in power.  Any government that does not listen and does not feel the temperature of her citizens is like salt that has lost its saltiness.  It is mere sand.
“It is on the basis of all of the above that we insist that state of emergency must be declared without any further delays in the three South East States of Abia, Anambra and Imo.  Such declaration will compel all governors and governments to take the security of their people with their investments more seriously.”
Obidigbo said in the alternative, the governors of the three states and all their political office holders as well as politicians from the zone should be stripped of all security escorts so that they feel the negative impact of insecurity in the zone.
“Let them also move around like every one else because they are surrounded by mean looking and gun throttling police and other security personnel, they can afford to go home everyday, consume choice food, pop champagne and sleep soundly with their wives  as if all is well all over,” he said.
The renowned Enugu_based manufacturer lamented that the abduction of Dr. Okoye, came at a period when Universities owned by the southeast governments are closed for upwards of six months wondering how any governor worth his salt should be at ease with most of the young people unemployed and students out of their Universities for six months, all contributing to the multiplication of crimes.
Chronicling the litany of woes dogging manufacturers in the South East, Obidigbo who was accompanied by officials and members of MAN,  noted that manufacturing has become the worst form of investment anybody could make pointing out that those who venture into manufacturing, like the abducted JUHEL MD, do so just to help in providing employment to the growing army of unemployed young people.
“People borrow a lot of money; millions of naira and invest into manufacturing to give employment, then we hear they have been kidnapped. The least the manufacturer, like Dr. Okoye, expects from government is security and they cannot provide that.
Our governors are going home to sleep and pretend as if nothing is happening. And when you want to give them ideas on how to create employment and reduce the rising incidence of crimes, none of them is interested. All they want is to retain their political offices.
Even our representatives in both chambers of the National Assembly are of no use to the people they are representing,” he declared.
The MAN Chairman explained that the legislators from southeast in Abuja ought to take up the issue of kidnapping and keep on shouting until something was done since according to him
the southeast geopolitical zone is fast drowning socially and economically.
Obidigbo lamented that manufacturers have become like “grass cutters, endangered species” that everyone pursues to kill or kidnap at sight noting that most manufacturers have fled the southeast from Aba to port Harcourt and from Onitsha to Asaba since according to him the governors don’t seem to care again about what is happening to ordinary people they are supposed to be leading.
He, however, implored all citizens of the country especially the military, the police and all security agencies to do everything possible to secure the immediate release of Dr. Okoye just as he called on the Nigerian media to help sensitize the nation on the combined evils of kidnapping and armed robbery which has enveloped the South East states.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/12/kidnapping-man-demands-state-of-emergency-in-s-east/

NASS members are looting treasury – Akinjide

NewsDec 15, 2010

By Ola Ajayi

IBADAN—FORMER Attorney- General and Minister of Justice, Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN), has condemned the take home pay of members of the National Assembly, describing it as looting of treasury.
Chief Akinjide who spoke as a guest lecturer at the 3rd convocation lecture of the Lead City University, Ibadan yesterday, expressed regrets that he had never seen such outrageous allowances since he started practising as a member of parliament since 1959.
Lamenting that the salaries of our lawmakers were higher than that of American President, President Barak Obama, he stated that “what is happening at the National Assembly nowadays could be aptly described in two words— “treasury looting”.
The legal luminary who spoke on the topic, “the risk of Implosion “explained further that during his own time, they were there for public service and not for poverty alleviation as we have today.
He said: “I became a member of parliament in December 12, 1959 and I was there during the independence and after independence. I have never seen anything like what is going on today.”
What is going on at the national Assembly can be summarized in two words: treasury looting.”
When I entered the Parliament in 1959. I started practizing as a member of parliament at the age of 24 and I entered the parliament at 27. Then, my pay was 840 Pounds per annum.
There was no car; there was no house. We only had free tea and coffee whenever Parliament was meeting”.
To him, “the revelation by the CBN governor is unbelievable. We are now subject of ridicule all over the world. I have been to the Parliament of several countries like Israel, Japan, London and there
is nothing like that. It is alarming; it is worrying. You go there for public service not for poverty alleviation.
The honour then was being a member of Parliament.”
He said that we don’t really have a nation but a country adding that the problem we are encountering to day was the handiwork of the colonialists.
Akinjide added that until we change the structure made by Lord Lugard, the country may not get its bearing forever. “What we have today is a country and not a nation and until we have a nation we cannot have any progress., he stated.
He attributed the nagging problem the country is having to lack of good leadership noting that the problem became worse because those who don’t know are the ones governing those who know.
Due to bad leadership, he reasoned that our economy is regressing. He asked that people should go to various Houses of Assembly and look at the quality of those legislating for the states. to check this ugly development, he advised that all people should join politics so that bad people would not continue to rule us.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/12/nass-members-are-looting-treasury-akinjide/

Nigeria may be Africa’s 1st BRIC, but not yet

REUTERS

December 14, 2010 12:45AM

South Africa, the largest economy in Africa, is eager for elevation to the coveted BRIC status of emerging markets, but investors say Nigeria is a more probable African contender, even if promotion for either is some way off.

Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev, at last month’s G20 meeting in South Korea, said South Africa had “applied” to join the four-member BRIC grouping of fast-growing emerging economies - Brazil, Russia, India and China. Turkey, Mexico and Indonesia are typically the countries investors eye as an addition to the BRICs, which have grabbed an outsize slice of emerging market investment in recent years due to their scale, growth and impact on the global economy. But resource-rich Africa, boasting some of the fastest-growing countries in the world, has become a focus for investors looking for high returns over a longer time frame.

Population boost

Investment flows into Nigeria are tiny compared with South Africa. Nigeria saw equity fund flows of just $216 million for the first 10 months of this year, compared with $3.4 billion for South Africa, according to fund tracker EPFR. Yet while South Africa is the larger economy, Nigeria is expected to catch up in the next few years. “In Nigeria, you still have 70 percent of the population living on a dollar a day, but there is a demographic impact. In the next five years, Nigeria will add another 23 million people and South Africa will add another 2.8 million,” said Razia Khan, the Head of Africa Research at Standard Chartered. Nigeria’s economy may overtake South Africa’s by 2023, Standard Chartered says, assuming South Africa grows by 4 percent and Nigeria by 7 percent on a purchasing power parity basis.

Goldman Sachs Asset Management Chairman, Jim O’Neill, who coined the term BRIC nine years ago, told last week’s Reuters 2011 Investment Outlook Summit he was constantly getting e-mails suggesting he added or subtracted countries from the acronym. South Africa, at a population of under 50 million people, is just too small to join the BRIC ranks, O’Neill says. “How can South Africa be regarded as a big economy? And, by the way, they happen to be struggling as well,” he said. Meanwhile, recent policy changes in Nigeria, including the appointment as finance minister of former Goldman Sachs banker, Olusegun Aganga, could present new possibilities. “Nigeria has shown some vague signs,” said Mr O’Neill. “If they could impose the level of leadership, a whole new way of governance in which corruption is dramatically reduced, Nigeria is I think very interesting. It’s 20 percent of Africa’s population, which means it could be pretty powerful.”

Nigeria’s population already totals more than 150 million, larger than Russia’s, and on some estimates could double in the next 20 years. Investors are already targeting the African consumer and growing middle class, and a rising population would increase consumer demand. Acha Leke, a Lagos-based director at consultancy McKinsey, is cautiously optimistic on the power of population. “Demographics is a double-edged sword - you have a massive, massive market, but you have a bunch of people to educate and create jobs for,” he said. “This could be a great opportunity, it has to be carefully managed.”

Corruption and instability

Nigeria may have an edge over South Africa, but it still has a long way to go. Corruption is a deterrent, with the country coming 134th out of 178 countries in Transparency International’s 2010 Corruption Perceptions Index, compared with 54th for South Africa. Some of Nigeria’s biggest challenges include its inadequate power grid and other infrastructure shortages. In the short term, political uncertainty is also an issue for Nigerian investors ahead of April elections, with President Goodluck Jonathan facing a tough battle securing the ruling party nomination because of a pact in the party that power rotates every two terms between the mostly Moslem north and largely Christian south. And in capital markets, South Africa is far and away the winner, as the biggest financial market in Africa. South Africa is a regular borrower in international debt markets, while Nigeria last week delayed a debut sovereign bond. South Africa is also a constituent of the benchmark MSCI global emerging equities index, while Nigeria is only in the less liquid frontier markets index.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Money/Finance/5653514-146/nigeria_may_be_africas_1st_bric.csp

cont-

cont-

cont-

Ex Governor Abubakar Audu Renders Wife And Kids Homeless In Sub-zero Temperature

Written by Huhu Online

Tuesday, 14 December 2010 18:24

Former First lady Rendered Homeless in Potomac, MD.
This saga echoes a scene from a Nigerian home video, except that it is real. Imagine going from first lady, with all the largesse, to homeless, where you now have to depend on government assistance to survive in a foreign land. It is sad tale, but is the fate of Mrs. Aisha Abubakar Audu, former first lady of Kogi state.

Thursday, lawyers to Prince Abubakar Audu, who has been on a warpath with his wife, Aisha, showed up at their holiday home in Potomac, Maryland and evicted Mrs. Aisha Audu and her three young children from their home.

In the words of the former first lady, "Prince Abubakar Audu owns houses in this town but could not provide a place for us to stay. Instead, he has evicted us from a home we have known for 10 years".

“We were thrown outside at a temperature of less than 30 degrees, while he waited around town to be handed the keys to his company home. He has claimed victory over his wife and children to vacate his home".

“He acted shamelessly and like we are NOBODY!”

“We are now homeless but have been provided temporary accommodation by the USA Human and Health Services, under the abused persons programs, where I and the kids have been attending therapy since this ordeal started".

"They have also provided school for the kids. The neighbors provided immediate help to cushions our plight before we were taken to a shelter as we were not allowed to take anything from the house”.

“Audu has a second house used as a guest house when he is in USA, It is located at 3928 Highwood Ct, there is another apartment which is not currently on rent (managed by his son, Bashir Audu, a student) at Unit N6F 1155 23rd street and unit N6M 1155 23rd street and Unit-PH3 1111 23rd street, all in NW Washington DC under the sham names of Goldwindow, Mercury Belside & Sunshine llc which he solely owns and operate”.

“He could give instructions to allow any member of his family use especially as he had locked us out in Abuja too leaving us with nowhere to go even if we were to return to Nigeria”.

“He also has refused even through his divorce attorney to accept temporary relief for the kids, claiming he is not agreeing to divorce me and has not been properly served”.

“Meanwhile all my personal belongings including that of the children has been confisticated by him in our home in the villa in Abuja, Jos, Kaduna, Lokoja, Alloma, Ogbonicha and London. We cannot get into any of these houses without his instruction to caretakers, police and guards and that was the only reason we came to the USA home believing that he will come to his senses eventually if I just hanged on a bit, but now it is obviously clear that my life has been in danger all along and it has all been a setup”.

“Before moving to our home in the USA which we had always used as a family for over 10 years without any approval from his sham company, eminent personalities like the Ohinohi of Ibira land, HRH Alhaji Ado Ibrahim, former Chief of Defence Staff, Rear Adimiral Ibrahim Ogohi, former Minister of Defence, Alhaji Kwankwaso, former Governor of Sokoto state, Alhaji Atahiru Banfarawa including family members, all got involved to talk to him to act responsibly and follow the Islamic rites instead of the ritual oath on his father's grave, based on allegation by his 35 year old daughter, Meimuna of my plot to poison her father (Audu)”.

“They solicited that he should make amends to the developing situation and where a divorce is the ultimate; he should do it properly instead of locking us out of the house without adequate provision”. “But he was adamant and will not listen or even agree to pay the children’s school fees towards the next school session so that that the kids could continue with their school at the America International School, Abuja”.


http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/articles/nvs/ex-governor-abubakar-audu-renders-wife-and-kids-homeless-in-sub-zero-temperature.html

Dele Momodu Resigns From The Labour Party Of (LP) Of Nigeria

Posted: December 14, 2010 - 15:48

By Ohimai Amaize

Today, Tuesday 14th December, 2010, Bashorun Dele Momodu resigned his membership of the Labour Party (LP). Until now he was the most prominent presidential aspirant on the platform of The Labour Party (LP). The attached materials contain all relevant details about the circumstances and reasons that informed his decision to leave the party.

The Dele Momodu Presidential Campaign Organisation will announce his next moves shortly.

Ohimai Godwin Amaize
National Coordinator
Dele Momodu Presidential Campaign Organisation

14th December, 2010

Barr. Dan Nwayanwu
National Chairman,
Labour Party of Nigeria,
Abuja.

Dear Sir,

RESIGNATION FROM MEMBERSHIP OF THE LABOUR PARTY (LP)

I write to notify your good self and office of my resignation from the membership of The Labour Party (LP).

You will recall that on 20th November, 2010 I wrote to you drawing your attention to my observations about indications that The Labour Party (LP) had no plans to field a presidential candidate for the 2011 presidential election.

For the records, below is the text copy of that letter:

My dear Chairman,

How are you and your family Sir?

As a true Christian, I must bring to your attention some of my worries about your supposed attitude to my participation in the Presidential race on the platform of our great party, The Labour Party.

I'm very alarmed at some of the comments being credited to you by most of our mutual friends. It has become fashionable by many people to stop or call me to ask "what's going on between you and Dan, the Chairman of your party?" And whenever I asked why the question the answer was often that "DAN BELIEVES YOU ARE NOT SERIOUS, THAT YOU ONLY EXIST ON THE INTERNET, THAT YOU HAVE NO MONEY TO RUN A PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, "

The most cynical of the commentators was a man, UCHE ONYEAGUCHA, who I did not know before but accosted me at the Bukka Restaurant of Transcorp Hilton hotel a few weeks back, and shouted publicly that "Dele, sorry o, Dan has sold your ticket in Labour". I just managed the situation by laughing at him as a joker, otherwise he would have attracted a crowd to us.

Let me emphasise the fact that I have confidence in your leadership. The journey we've embarked upon is very daunting but divine. As difficult as it may seem, many Nigerians are looking up to our party to make the difference and deliver that change we've all been craving.

My strategy has been to use unconventional methods to reach our destination. If this is why you think I'm unserious, I plead with you to have faith that miracles do happen. Most of our potential donors have been worried that they are not sure that Labour Party would not sell out to the highest bidder. They claim that your body-language and an earlier interview granted by Dr. Akinlaja have not helped matters.

The party you lead today is generally seen as the hope of the common man but we have the onerous task of working tirelessly to convince members of the public that we are ready to make the necessary sacrifice for that much-awaited change.

Sir, it is too early in the day to write any candidate off. With limited resources, I have taken on political Goliaths. I have attracted considerable attention to our party. Everyone now agrees I'm one of the brightest hopes for Nigeria. In the name of God, I deserve to be encouraged.

Everywhere I go, I promote the best tenets of Labour Party, even at international fora. I have been speaking about how you have struggled to build the party with your sweat and blood. My coming to Labour was not by accident. I came to you because I was reasonably convinced that together we can show the world that Nigeria was not a colony of monkeys and that we have what it takes to move our great nation to the next level.

I will be delighted to meet with you between Wednesday and Thursday next week to give details of why I'm raising these concerns.

Thanks and God bless you.
Dele Momodu

Till this very day, I am yet to receive any written or verbal acknowledgment to the above letter from your good self as my party chairman. However, in an interview published in The Sunday Independent of 4th December 2010, titled "Mimiko under pressure to dump Labour Party - Nwanyanwu", you were quoted as saying: "My mandate is not to get a president this time around…"




Below is the text of the interview culled from The Sunday Independent of 4th December, 2010:

Mimiko under pressure to dump Labour Party – Nwanyanwu

By Obiora Ifoh, Assistant Editor, Abuja


Governor Olusegun Mimiko is under intense pressure to dump the Labour Party (LP) which brought him to Ondo Government House, the party’s National Chairman, Dan Nwanyanwu confirmed at the weekend, corroborating reports that Mimiko may soon dump the party.

Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) hawks are reportedly asking Mimiko to quit the LP as part of the accord he struck with them in exchange for the support they gave him in the thick of the legal battle against the peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s Olusegun Agagu who the electoral commission fraudulently declared winner of the April 14, 2007 governorship poll.

Nwanyanwu told Sunday Independent in an exclusive interview in Abuja that there have indeed been several overtures for Mimiko to dump the party, but the LP boss stopped short of naming the ACN or any of its chieftains in the defection plan.

“I will not deny that there has not been pressure from different quarters to take the only governor we have out of our party. In fact, the pressure started immediately he was sworn-in in 2009 and it has to do with the character of the person,” Nwanyanwu said.

“Initially, it was the PDP who felt that he should come back to the fold. I am not aware of this one you are talking about ACN, but I am talking generally that the categories of lobbying can never be closed. I cannot say that even other parties, even the CPC (Congress for Progressive Change) may go and lobby for him to leave, but I can only tell you that dumping a political party that gave you the vehicle to victory has to do with the character of the individual. Most people who have done it and are still in this country lack character, they lack honour, integrity.

“Governor Mimiko is a man of strong character, and as at now, I can tell you categorically that those who are pushing him to change  party are merely wasting their time. It will not work.”

Nwanyanwu also foreclosed the possibility of the LP fielding a presidential candidate in the next election, a faux pas likely to draw heated criticism from those wanting to contest for president on the platform of the party, including Ovation publisher, Dele Momodu.
Nwanyanwu insisted that presidential contest is not for lightweight politicians or up-coming political parties without heavy financial war chest. The LP knows its limitations, capabilities and capacities, according to Nwanyanwu.

His words: “My mandate is not to get a president this time around, but this is not to say that if I find the opportunity I will not grab it with two hands. We are working hard, we want to improve on what we got in 2007 and I am very confident that based on this one man, one vote that is on the lips of every body, Labour Party will have a good outing in the next year’s general election.

“When I say it is not in our mandate to contest for presidential election, it is because of our peculiar handicap. And I also said that that does not mean that if we have the opportunity, we will not grab it with two hands. If that opportunity comes, we will field a presidential candidate, we will participate in the election and I can assure you that we will win.

“But if the Labour Party presents a presidential candidate, it means we have cross-checked all the indices and we are now in a better position to run for that office. It is not something that if you don’t have money, you will say that you want to run for the president. Even for you to have one observer in all the polling booths in Nigeria which is 120,000; if you are paying them N2000, that alone is N240, 000,000.

“So running for presidential election is not for small boys. Anybody can say what he likes but you cannot make omelet without breaking an egg. That is the true situation. You have to have rallies, you have to buy buses, motorcycles and in some cases, you have to rent boats – all these things cost money. So if you don’t have it don’t waste your time, wait until you have it.

“And if you don’t have sponsors that will have confidence in you genuinely, don’t waste your time. That is the import of my statement, not as a political party we are not keen in producing a president. This is because this is a party for the masses, but I have told you, we don’t have the resources, the huge resources, needed to go for presidential election.”

In the light of the above, it is clear that The Labour Party (LP) has gone the direction of some other parties in Nigeria whose only mission is to sell their parties to the highest bidder. It is unfortunate that at this auspicious time in the history of our nation when the people of Nigeria are desirous of change, The Labour Party (LP), hitherto regarded as one of the last hopes of the common man has joined the bandwagon of political wheeler dealers void of conscience and lacking in the principles of honour and integrity.

And for the records, I have attached along with this letter, a series of documents which negate several assertions credited to you that my campaign exists only on the Internet.

Since the Labour Party (LP) has decided, in the wisdom of its leadership, to remain in the stagnant waters of primitive party politics, I have resolved to move on by resigning my membership of the party with immediate effect. I consider all the resources and efforts both financial and material that I contributed to the development of the party during the period of my membership as a sacrifice towards strengthening the democratic process in my fatherland.

It is my hope that sometime in the near future, a new set of credible leaders will emerge within the rank and file of the Labour Party (LP) to help restore the party to its rightful place within the polity.

I wish you and your executive team all the best for the future.

Dele Momodu

http://www.saharareporters.com/news-page/dele-momodu-resigns-labour-party-lp-nigeria

FG pledges to complete Zik’s mausoleum with N185 million

NewsDec 14, 2010

By Vincent Ujumadu

AWKA — THE Federal Government yesterday reiterated its commitment to complete the abandoned Zik’s Mausoleum in Onitsha with a reviewed contract sum of N185. 06 million.
Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ndueze Essien, who visited the Mauseluem, yesterday, reiterated President Goodluck Jonathan’s commitment towards completion of the project at the Inosi Onira Retreat, near the Army Barracks in Onitsha.
He said government decided to review the contract holistically to accommodate the mausoleum, a conference/administrative block, residential/guest houses, external infrastructures, swimming pool, boys’ quarters, landscaping and horticulture, against the piece-meal approach of the previous contracts.
He said that on completion, the mausoleum will be 30 metres above the ground level and equivalent to a 10-storey building, adding that government had found that the complexity, risk content and sensitively of the building required expert touch, which was why the Federal Government was making funds available for its completion in the 2011 Appropriation Act.
He described the Mausoleum project as “one grave and commanding presence that Nigerians will for all times recognise, for the life of the great Zik has become a part of our common history and story of our triumph over the forces of oppression and injustice.”
Tracing the history of the project, he said it dated back to 1996, shortly after the death of the foremost nationalist, recalling that the Federal Government set up a Central Planning Committee to organise his internment and build a befitting burial chamber in his honour.
Vanguard recalls that the committee, which operated within the Presidency, appointed a consultant architect, Messrs Frank Mbanefo & Associates, to design and supervise the Mausoleum.
Precisely in November 1996, the government awarded contract for the construction of the burial chambers to Messrs Lemmy Akakem Construction Company Limited at the cost of N350, 497,316.60, unfortunately, the contractor abandoned the job shortly after.
The Presidency in 2000 transferred the project to the then Federal Ministry of Works, Housing and Urban Development. The Ministry made some efforts to resuscitate the project in 2001 and got the approval of the Presidency to re_award the contract again to Lemmy Akakem Construction Company at the initial contract sum, but the company again failed to deliver the job and the contract was terminated in 2002.
The demand for the firm to refund an outstanding sum of N29,578,749 to the government led to litigation that was later settled out of court in February 2006. By this time, what could be seen of a dream Mausoleum was the foundation and some columns at the ground floor.
In 2006, the then Minister of Housing and Urban Development Dr. Olusegun Miniko sought and got the approval of the presidency to engage a fresh contractor to handle the project through a selective tendering procure, the contract was awarded to Beton Bau Nigeria Limited at the sum of N121,412,998.54 and the site was handed over in November 2007, but work was delayed due to disagreement over the request for inclusion of rehabilitation work on some part of the main building allegedly destroyed by members of MASSOB.
In 2010 a total of N252 million was appropriated for the project and efforts were made to resuscitate it and the contractor was invited to mobilize to site but he requested for the revision of the rates for contracts in 2010.
The firm submitted a revised Bill of Quantities based on prevailing market prices which amounted to N335,684,380 in Febuary 2010, but the sum was negotiated down to N185,026,940.54 by officials of the Ministry and on March 17 2010 the contractor officially wrote indicating his acceptance of the offer.
The first son of late Azikiwe, Chief Chukwuma Azikiwe commended the Federal Government for the review of the contract and the concern the president has shown the family.
He wished that the new zeal of the Federal Government to complete the project should not be another dashed hope.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/12/fg-pledges-to-complete-ziks-mausoleum-with-n185-million/

National Assembly is now a huge threat to our democracy, says Osoba

TUESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2010 00:00 BY GROUP POLITICAL EDITOR AKPO ESAJERE, KODILINYE OBIAGWU AND SEYE OLUMIDE FEATURES - POLICY & POLITICS

FORMER Managing Director of Daily Times, Chief Olusegun Osoba, was elected governor of Ogun State in 1991 and 1999. A member of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), he spoke with The Group Political Editor, AKPO ESAJERE, KODILINYE OBIAGWU and SEYE OLUMIDE in his Lagos home. Excerpts:

YOU were at the 1988 Constituent Assembly that debated extensively the return of democracy. Is the present state of the nation what those of you at the Assembly had in mind?

In the then Constituent Assembly, we had people like the deposed Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki, Dr. Lateef Adegbite, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife who was a permanent secretary, Oba Otudeko an industrialist, and successful businessman, Haroun Adamu. Dasuki then had done a lot of work on council administration and his report was still relevant. Adegbite was a legal luminary in the department of law at University of Lagos The vision was a better and well-managed Nigeria. We had meetings for the formation of political parties; Adamu was the leader of the progressive group. The divide was clear then: the conservatives and progressives were holding separate meetings and that was the model we thought of using for the development of the country’s political system. And that was the system Gen. Ibrahim Babangida followed with little amendment. He transformed it into the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the National Republican Convention (NRC). The SDP was a group of progressive minded politicians while the NRC was of conservative-minded politicians. There was no carpet-crossing of any kind.
The caliber of people who, for example emerged, as governors then, were people who had wide experiences in government, the civil service, business and the professions. The debate at the Council of State meetings was robust and we even argued under the military. Several times we had our way as against the agenda of the military. It is not the same today.
Despite the vision, corruption was still prevalent during that time…
It is surprising when people talk of corruption and nobody remembers that corruption is deeper in the civil service than anywhere else. This started after the purge of the civil service by the late Gen. Murtala Mohammed. Before then, civil servants had tenured appointments and pension was regular. Those were days when civil service was good. But when Murtala purged the service, there was insecurity. When we talk of corruption yesterday and today, the civil servants are more corrupt than any other group in the country.

Did the Constituent Assembly do enough in your view about the Niger Delta situation at that time?

Yes, we did not close our eyes to it. There was internal pressure and the Niger Delta thing is not new. There was pressure on Babangida and his government started derivation. The late Chief Obafemi Awolowo had spoken about what we call the COR states of the Niger Delta, - Calabar, Ogoja, Rivers. He preached the idea of fiscal federalism and that was why he fought for derivation and was able to get it in the First Republic where cocoa-producing states of the Western Region were making more money and he used the money to develop the then Western Region.
So, looking back to what was the vision at that time, what could you say went wrong and what can be done about it?
The cause of the failure is the discovery of oil in this country. I was a young boy in Methodist Boys High School when I wrote in my diary that oil was first discovered at Oloibiri in 1956. I didn’t know that the oil would become our nemesis. It destroyed all our core values. In the past it was honorable to be a teacher, a lawyer or a doctor but with the discovery of oil, our schools dropouts became the richest. They were the ones who got the fat contracts.
The revenue coming from cocoa, groundnuts, and oil palm productions became a thing of the past. Nobody cared since money was coming in easily. Payment of tax used to be compulsory. The slogan in the Western Region was ‘payment of tax is an article of faith and is compulsory.’ We believed in that. But when oil was discovered, that ended.
It is the easy way the money was coming that encouraged corruption. Suddenly, those who went to university found out that those who did not even pass their school certificate exams were being worshipped. Then came the civil war. But shortly after the war, coupled with the easy money coming from oil, our core values were further destroyed. The arms from the war went into wrong hands and that was how armed robbery became rampant. And then, we got the leadership wrong. We cannot compare the calibre of past leaders with the present.

Politically, why couldn’t the country get another set of quality leaders, was something wrong with the politics of transition?

The former president, Olusegun Obasanjo created the disruption of the political balance and the instability in the political system. His emergence in 1999 gave so much hope because we all said that here was a man with experience, a seasoned leader who had been there before. He was the lucky commander that handled the Biafran surrender and ended the civil war. But, perhaps, we overrated Obasanjo and that was the beginning of the rot.
Despite your claims to lack of prejudice, you have often taken the liberty of bashing Obasanjo. Is this one of it?
I admit that I can be called a bitter man from what Obasanjo did to me in 2003. But that does not stop me from saying the fact. Any governor, especially the AD governors in the 1999 to 2003 era will agree with me that the manner of debate at the Council of State became a one-man show and many of them started sending their deputies to go and listen to Obasanjo’s lectures. What Obasanjo did in 2003 was politically wrong. He decided to capture some states rather than win the election. In the process he threw up all kinds of characters as governors of South West. Obasanjo brought in untested, inexperienced people.
Obasanjo created the do-or-die politics and he started using the word “capture.” The younger people came in believing that everything is possible using fetish means, assassinations and other every kind of evil design. However, there are a few who are good. Edo State governor Adams Oshiomhole is living up to his billing just like his counterpart in Lagos Babatunde Fashola (SAN). I expect that good things will come from the Governor of Osun, Rauf Aregbesola. The governor of Ekiti State Dr. Kayode Fayemi has a good political tutelage under NADECO. Presently, we are recreating that higher standard of governance in the South West; and this is not propaganda.

Are you optimistic that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under Prof. Attahiru Jega will conduct credible polls in 2011?

I have always expressed my reservations about INEC. Jega may mean well but the products of Prof. Maurice Iwu are still in INEC. He will sit in Abuja and this people would have done their havoc at the state level. We have seen how the equipment meant for the election was stolen on arrival at the airport. Are we expecting free election?

With the way things are now, what are the political parties doing wrong today?

During the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) days, political parties were institutions. Babangida tried to align the parties along ideological lines. Today, we have 60 political parties without ideology; everybody is coming to run elections. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) owns most of the parties. They deliberately set the parties up to cause confusion. When you have over 60 parties, it is confusion for voters. What is wrong in having just six parties? The All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), PDP, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and the Peoples Progressive Alliance (PPA) are serious parties.
Apparently, you are not expecting free and fair elections…
The mood today is to fight and defend votes. And if we are not careful, there may be violence. Jega can convince if he applies to the letter the clause in the 2003 Electoral Act, which states that voting shall be by open secret ballot. Iwu pretended not to know the meaning. Open secret means that you start the process of voting in total openness. People are accredited early in the day and in the open. Later, those accredited are audited. If the number of voters is 100, then the vote must not exceed 100. Then every voter thumb-prints in secret but drops his ballot in the ballot box in the open. The final part is after everybody had voted, the ballot papers are exposed on the table and counted and the result announced before everybody including the security agents and the party agents. The process ends there. Unless Jega applies this system there is not going to be free and fair election. If he insists that voting will take place between 8 am and 3 pm, then we are doomed. The practice is for them to allow voting to go on between 8 am and 3 pm and by the time everybody had gone home, they start their evil.
I will tell you how the 2003 election in Ogun State was rigged. Two types of ballot papers were handed over to everybody in Ogun on the day of election. By 9 am they claimed they had counted 1.2 million votes for Obasanjo and they recorded 600,000 votes for all the gubernatorial candidates. Obasanjo was asked on television how, “he scored 1.2 million and the governorship candidates scored 600,000. What happened to the balance given to the governors?” He coughed and said, “one blind woman told them she just wants to vote for Obasanjo that was what happened.” The Appeal Court cancelled the election in Ogun. But we decided not to go to court. In Ogun the result of my election was written at University of Agriculture Abeokuta. I know those who did it.

How do you look at the contest between the northern consensus presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar against President Goodluck Jonathan in the PDP primary?

Atiku was with us in the ACN, I had deepest respects for him. Within our fold, we believed that he was maligned to the point of destruction. He was called all sorts of unprintable names and we fought hard to shake off all those labels. Atiku could be on record as one politician after Awolowo who went to court and used the rule of law to fight his cause. That earned him my respect as a political son of Awolowo who taught us the practice of using the law to fight our cause and that informed the way we ran the marathon race in all Yoruba states. I call it marathon because three and half years we fought in Ekiti and Osun. Atiku went to court on almost all issues and won 99 per cent of the cases.
When he was in AC, we branded him a fighter for democracy. If he had not committed harakiri, (Japanese for suicide) by leaving ACN, he would have been the most popular and most respected champion of democracy today. If he had remained in ACN he would have been the leading northern politician. With the solid vote of the South West, and Atiku’s experience combined, we would not be talking of looking for a consensus candidate. He would have been the man to beat. His misstep was his undoing. Within our fold, Otunba Niyi Adebayo is perhaps, the closest person to him. One weekend he was in Lagos and Niyi and I visited him. We spoke and discussed about Obasanjo. He said that between Thabo Mbeki and Obasanjo he did not know which of them was more vicious and mischievous. Atiku told us then that he just returned from South Africa to broker peace between Mbeki and the incumbent President of South Africa. He told us that when he got to Mbeki’s house it was empty as Obasanjo house is empty. The following day I heard that Atiku had gone to Obasanjo’s House. He never told us he was going to Obasanjo. Obasanjo seized my land, which I paid N5 million for in Abuja because I was on the side of Atiku. I was against third term and was in the same political camp with Atiku. Obasanjo and I are from the same community and Atiku went and settled with him! It created a terrible despondency in our mind. That step was Atiku’s undoing.

What do you say about President Jonathan?

I have not had a meeting with him but certain things are worrisome about him. First, I do not know how Jonathan came to lose the Save Nigeria Group (SNG). These are highly credible people. Gen. Alani Akinrinade, a former Chief of Army Staff and former Chief of Defense Staff, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Pastor Tunde Bakare donning T-shirts and caps, marching in the streets and demonstrating to get Jonathan appointed acting president and later president. When he got into office these people complained that they were no longer consulted to debate or exchange views on issues with the president. I can’t explain how a president will lose a man like Dr. Dokpesi who mobilised the media to make public statement in support of Jonathan being made acting president. I cannot understand it. I cannot also explain if the late President Umaru Yar’Adua from the North can execute a successful amnesty programme in Niger Delta only suddenly to find out that even on the nation’s 50th Anniversary some people bombed the Federal Capital Territory. It seems to me that the president is not managing certain issues carefully. The essence of a good leader is the ability to manage the good the bad and ugly.

Do you agree with Pastor Tunde Bakare that President Jonathan ought to have acted against what happened in Ogun House of Assembly recently?

The president is in a position to stop it. For example, the Police are under the control of the Federal Government and the House of Assembly is under lock and key and is being guarded by the police. This is where the President comes in. Rather than guarding the place, the president should provide security for the legislators to perform their functions. The present situation in Ogun does not speak well of the president.

Where is your sympathy in Ogun?

My concern is for the Rule of Law to prevail. What is happening in Ogun State House of Assembly is condemnable that nine people sack 15 people. That action cannot be defended in apart of the world. Any government that endorses that is undemocratic.

How do you feel about the National Assembly earning 25 per cent of the national budget?

No reasonable person will ever encourage such a thing. I am disappointed about the insensitivity of the National Assembly members. Anybody who criticises them is summoned and warned. Recently, a member of the House of Representatives made a statement attacking the jumbo pay of the National Assembly members. He was made to withdraw it in the chambers. This National Assembly has displayed a spirit of intolerance for simple criticism. This kind of thing makes me wonder if this democracy will survive. I have lately been worried by some of the text messages going round. One of the texts claims that it costs taxpayers N290 million yearly to maintain each member of the National Assembly. Another compares the salaries of the lawmakers to that of military generals and police officers. According to the text messages, in a country where nothing works, a federal legislator earns more than the yearly income of a doctor, twice the pay of the president of the United States, and nine times the salary of the US congressmen. They are the ones opening themselves to this danger that can make this democracy collapse. These young men are making things difficult and dangerous.
These are dangerous insinuations constituting danger to our current democracy. The lawmakers must purge themselves otherwise they will pull down the roof on all of us.

Do you think the economy can sustain the high cost of governance?

The governors must release how much is in their security votes. Some of them collect as much as N200 million monthly for security votes, I cannot forgive any governor who is collecting that amount for his security vote.

Is the security vote statutory?

It is for the governors to decide. In my time, I was collecting N500.000 monthly as security vote. The vote is meant for sundry expenses like transportation fare for certain visitors, occasional show of benevolence and of course security. But in our time, we maintained good security. I am aware that in Ekiti then, Niyi Adebayo had N250,000 as his security vote. Akande left his vote for his security details to manage. Lam Adesina also did not touch his security vote. What some of the governors are doing with the security votes is condemnable.
Comment on the issue of generational shift in governance
Any country that does not allow generational shift would fail. There is nothing wrong in allowing dynamic young people to make success in politics. How old is President Barak Obama? I support generational shift but the problem is that it must be somebody who has pedigree and something to show. Obama did not just become president. He was a successful lawyer and senator. The world over, we have young men in control. Tony Blair was 45 when he became Prime Minister and he paid his dues in the Labour Party. It is not about rising from nowhere and wanting to become the president overnight.

How would you look at Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari?

He appointed me Managing Director of Daily Times. He gave me freedom to turn the Daily Times around. I made profit under a military government because Buhari and his Deputy, the late Tunde Idiagbon did not bother me as the MD of the Daily Times. But he has not shown enough political sagacity. The day the North West, where Buhari comes from combine with South West, we will produce the president. We have six states in the South West and the North West has seven states, making 13 states. Buhari is popular in Kano and some other areas of the North. I cannot explain why he decided to go solo this time around. I could understand that in 2007 Atiku was there and there were fears that he might use his political influence to upstage him at the primaries. After Atiku left we in the South West were there for the picking because after the exit of Obasanjo we cannot lay claim to the presidency. Rather than forming CPC he would have joined forces with us to form one party. Though the issue of working with him is not foreclosed, we will never go into alliance again after what Obasanjo did for us. We have sworn not to go into alliance because the PDP is already rigging the 2011 election. How can you make the presidential election come after the National Assembly before the governorship and Houses of Assembly? That is the difficulty. The INEC was created by the constitution I do not believe that the National Assembly has the powers to dictate procedural issues to INEC. The sequence of the election is procedural and should be business of INEC but the National Assembly today wants to do things in a way that is illegal. They have put the sequence of election in the Electoral Act; it is illegal and unconstitutional. We will challenge it in court.

http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32241:national-assembly-is-now-a-huge-threat-to-our-democracy-says-osoba&catid=73:policy-a-politics&Itemid=607

Jumbo pay: Mark hits back at Sanusi

NewsDec 14, 2010

By Simon Ebegbulem & Gabriel Enogholase

SENATE President, Senator David Mark, yesterday, described as laughable the allegation by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Lamido Sanusi, that the salaries and allowances of members of the National Assembly were draining the purse of the nation, saying the Central Bank itself has received N300 billion as overhead so far.
Mark who also reacted to the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, as the Northern consensus candidate, shortly after he paid a condolence visit to Governor Adams Oshiomhole at Government House, Benin City, dismissed the decision of the Mallam Adamu Ciroma committee, insisting that “the only consensus candidate we have is President Goodluck Jonathan.”
Mark who urged Nigerians to cross-check facts before pointing accusing fingers at the National Assembly as regards jumbo pay, said: “The Central Bank said that our overhead which is N150 billion equates to 25 per cent. The Central Bank itself has got an overhead of N300 billion, what does that equate to by simple arithmetic. It equates to 50 per cent. So people are not discussing on facts, they must discuss on facts.”
Stressing the need for medical practitioners to find solution to the devastating nature of breast cancer in the country, Mark said: “I think first of all it does not require legislation any way. Executive can always establish a hospital, whether a specialised hospital or a general hospital. And the individuals also can establish their hospital. So, it really does not need any form of legislation for us to establish that type of hospital.
“And I think that the management of cancer everywhere in the world has become the major concern of most governments and individuals in the medical practice. I believe that this is perhaps an opportunity for us in this country to begin to look at those specialised areas.”
On the death of Mrs Oshiomhole, the Senate President said : “Like every other person that has come to condole with Adams Oshiomhole, I feel with deep sorrow, I feel for him and the family. But the only consolation is that when you come to this life you must go back. So when you are brought to this earth, you must go back to mother earth, there is time for every thing.
“Her time is up, so we have consolation in the fact that she has done what God sent her to do on earth, she has done extreme well. So I console with His Excellency and the people of Edo State and Nigerians in general, especially the Nigerian Labour Congress where he was President before now.”
Meanwhile sympathizers have continued to besiege the Edo state Government House to commiserate with Governor Adams Oshiomhole on the shocking death of his wife, Clara. Former Governor of old Bendel State, Brig.Gen.Tunde Ogbeha (rtd), the leadership of the Benin National Congress (BNC), the Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN) Nation wide,member of House of Representatives, Mr Patrick Obahiagbon, Oba of Ugboshi_ele, in Akoko Edo Local Government Council, Oba Timothy Oyeoba the Otodo 111 and other dignataries.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/12/jumbo-pay-mark-hits-back-at-sanusi/

I ‘ll endear PDP to Nigerians – Nwodo

NewsDec 6, 2010

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

ABUJA — The National Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo, has said he would take steps to endear the party to Nigerians.
Chief Nwodo, who admitted during a chat in Abuja that PDP has not been loved by Nigerians as much as it had won elections, pledged that he was prepared to change the public perception of the party.
He spoke against the background of recent losses suffered by the PDP which has lost four governorship seats to Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and Labour Party in Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, and penultimate week, Osun State in recent times. The party also lost Anambra to APGA.
His words: “We were winning elections but not winning the hearts of the people. We were winning elections but if you go down there, I don’t think the people like us as much as we were winning because we were not delivering to them the dividends of democracy.”
Nwodo, who has launched a concerted image laundering campaign for the party, said it was established on very sound principles of social justice in an egalitarian society where all Nigerians can realise their full potentials.
According to him, he would return PDP to its original core values of internal democracy, low tolerance for violence and rescuing the party from god-fathers, saying that many founding members of the party had to leave the fold at a point when it was taken over by undemocratic forces.
On Nigeria’s development efforts since independence, Nwodo said ethnic and sectional politics held the nation down for 50 years and must be rejected, forthwith.
He, therefore, urged Nigerians to disregard politicians whose campaign are hinged on such issues rather than how they can improve the living standards in the country.
His words: “We have done it badly for 50 years. How can we do it better now? I want to vote for that person who can do it better. Who has a clear vision on how he is going to do it better. That is where the debate should be.
“Nigerians, after 50 years, we are tired of somebody telling me that because we come from the same place with me, that is why I should vote for him.
“Or that we are going to the same church that is why I should vote for him. Or we belong to certain cultural affinity or whatever, that is why I should vote for him, no. That campaign didn’t take us anywhere for 50 years.”
“I want Nigerians to vote for those people who can change our lives, wherever they come from”.
Concentrate on real issues that after Nigerians
Chief Nwodo said all PDP aspirants should concentrate on convincing Nigerians how they intend to provide infrastructure, water, electricity power and better health facilities for the public.
His words, “we want those campaigning to carry our flag understand the new face of PDP. They should understand that we hold integrity high, that we place very high premium on issues that border on the lives of every Nigeria.
How do we give them water to drink, how do we give them power, so that they can stay in their villages and generate industries and employment because there is 24 hours of power in the country side. How do we improve the quality of education that the Nigerian who leaves school can be self employed and if employed can give value to his employer?
How do we stop our people from drifting to India , UAE and other third World countries in addition to going to America and Europe when if they get there they are going to meet Nigerian doctors who are working in those places?
How do we provide the enabling environment for other people to come and meet Nigerian doctors in Nigeria?
The National Chairman of the ruling party said he wanted to leave a legacy, just like Martin Luther whose speech, produced current American President Barak Obama, adding, “our concern is what can we do now to create Nigeria’s Obama? Internal democracy. Our people must vote and we must create the enabling environment for them to choose”.
Consensus candidates whittled down quality of leaders in Nigeria
He also criticised the “consensus candidate” phenomenon, which he said has whittled down the quality of leadership in the country since 1999. According to him the process that produces the consensus candidates makes it impossible for the best candidate to emerge, thereby undermining the very ideal of democracy.
Chief Nwodo who vowed to reform the PDP said “where we got it wrong was in the selection of our candidates for elections. After Jos convention in 1999, we never had elective conventions again. We started consensus. We started imposition of candidates.
“So the competitiveness that is critical to bringing out the best leadership quality in our country through internal democracy were abandoned. This greatly affected the quality of leadership in our country.
“Other nations go to the World Cup with their first 11 and they never come back with the World Cup. Can you imagine a country that goes to the World Cup with its third 11. I think in some cases, Nigeria even went below the third 11.
“The central point of the message we are bringing is that internal democracy must came back. If we bring back internal democracy, in our party, we want to produce our first 11 to challenge other political parties in general elections”.
We want new crop of leaders
Chief Nwodo said he was working towards raising a new crop of leaders in Nigeria whose commitment to development and care for the people would not be doubted.
“We want to grow a new leadership in Nigeria that cares about the people, because for the people to elect you, they must trust you. You must convince them that you understand their problems and that you are going into power to solve their problems.
“That is why we have told all those you are aspiring to carry the flag of the PDP to forget the old tradition of coming to the National Secretariat. They should go to the people. Go and preach to the people,” he said.
He promised to be fair to all aspirants and ensure that delegates genuinely elect their flag bearers from the Ward up to the federal level.
His words, “if we provide a level playing ground for our primary elections and you have convinced the people to vote for you, we will be proud to present you”.
He expressed confidence that whoever wins the parties primaries between President Jonathan and Alh. Atiku Abubakar would receive the support of the other.
On the raging debate over the attempt by federal legislators to make themselves members of their parties’ Executive Councils, the PDP boss warned that if the law makers claimed they wanted to check the excesses of governors and in the process “install their own excesses then we are not safe”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/12/i-%E2%80%98ll-endear-pdp-to-nigerians-nwodo/

Reps to question Sanusi today

By Emmanuel Ogala

December 6, 2010 01:59AM


Members of the House of Representatives will today grill Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the Central Bank Governor, over his insistence that 25.4% of the nation’s overhead cost is spent on the National Assembly.

Mr Sanusi was scheduled to appear before the lawmakers on Thursday. The House, however, called off the session midday on Thursday after the CBN governor had waited for about two hours in the office of the Clerk to the National Assembly. Mr Sanusi had arrived at the National Assembly in the morning with a number of files.

The previous day, he was grilled by four senate committees where he had an altercation with senators over the validity of his comments that 25.4% of the nation’s overhead cost is spent on the national assembly.

Mr. Sanusi stood his ground before the senate, despite attempts to browbeat him to accept the figure was wrong and then apologize.

Face a committee

The House resolved that rather than have the CBN governor appear before members in plenary, he should be made to appear before a select committee like he did before the senate.

The decision to postpone the session and refer the CBN governor to the select was taken after the Leader of the House, Tunde Akogun (PDP, Edo) withdrew his motion that the relevant orders of the standing rules of the House be suspended to have Mr Sanusi admitted into the chambers.

Mr. Sanusi is expected to appear before a joint committee comprising the Banking and Currency, Finance, Appropriations and Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes committees.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5650299-146/reps_to_question_sanusi_today_.csp

Nigerian leaders need prayers, says Gowon

By Jethro Ibileke

December 6, 2010 01:53AM

As the nation approaches another election year, former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon said yesterday that Nigeria’s leaders need prayers for God to direct them on the right path.

Speaking in Benin City during a visit to state governor, Adams Oshiomhole, Mr Gowon,who is also the converner of ‘Nigeria Prays’ said his group is in the ancient town to pray for Nigeria and to pray particularly for its leadership at the federal, state and local government,including religious leaders.

“We will also pray for the country and the well-being of the people. We will pray for the leadership that God will guide them right to do the right things for the people,” he said. “We are going round to sensitise the people and ask them to join us. I assure you that the body of conveners of ‘Nigeria Prays’ appreciate what you have been doing and hope that God will answer our prayers and wish you well in everything you do.” Mr Oshiomhole said it is true that Nigeria needs a lot of prayers to confront the myriad of challenges facing it.“I believe in what you are doing sir. First is the fact that being out of office does not mean you cannot find an enviable role to play.

Outside governance, you have continued to impact very positively on the lives of the people and you have continued to inspire us to recognise that we can all carve a role for ourselves,” he said. “Secondly, there is no question in my mind that Nigeria needs a lot of prayers for God to redirect the thoughts of Nigerian leaders and give them courage and wisdom.”

People’s leaders

The governor stated further that power belongs to God and the power ,leaders exercise is on behalf of the people and can only be justified when it is used to touch the lives of the people positively.

“At this time in Edo State, we are facing a lot of challenges including some of our people who have resorted to criminal activities including kidnapping. We must continue to enforce the law and pray that the good Lord touches their hearts to recognise that whatever challenges they face cannot be resolved through criminal acts,” he said.

Mr Oshiomhole acknowledged that there is need for citizens to rise and challenge leaders to keep their promises.

While identifying with ‘Nigeria Prays’, Mr Oshiomhole thanked Mr Gowon for the programme and expressed the hope that the nation would benefit immensely from it.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5650320-146/nigerian_leaders_need_prayers_says_gowon.csp

Tukur asks lawmakers to refund ‘illegal’ allowances

By Festus Owete

December 6, 2010 01:59AM

A former chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Hamma Tukur has asked members of the National Assembly to return all allowances and salaries they collected illegally from the nation’s treasury.

Mr Tukur who said this during a radio programme (Raypower) at the weekend, noted that the 469 Senators and members of the House of Representatives are being unfair to the country if the reports are true that they collect allowances above what the commission stipulated.

According to him, the commission recommended and approved a total package of N954,096.60 monthly for a senator and N794,084.95 for each member of the House of Representatives. He said the figures include the basic salaries and allowances.

He said that a Senator’s basic salary is N168,866.66 while that of each representative is about N165,434.33, stressing that any amount they receive above this is illegal.

“If it is one single naira above this figure, it is not known in law. Therefore, the lawmakers should refund whatever extra they collected,” Mr Tukur, who left office last year, said.

Speaking further, the former commission boss explained that the salaries and allowances were worked out based on what a director in the ministry earns.

The actual salaries and allowances of the federal lawmakers have been a subject of controversy for years. There were reports that each member of the House now takes home about N42 million quarterly while a senator earns N80 million.

Last week, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was summoned by the Senate and the House of Representatives to substantiate his claim, during a lecture at the Iginedion University, that about 25 percent of the overhead of the national budget was being used to maintain the legislators.

When he appeared before the lawmakers, Mr Sanusi insisted that the figure was correct since he obtained it from the office of the Director General of the Budget Office.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5650297-146/tukur_asks_lawmakers_to_refund_illegal.csp

Former President Obasanjo Humiliated By Fayose At Oyinlola's Thanksgiving Event In Okuku
Posted: December 5, 2010 - 22:37

By SaharaReporters, New York

Former president Olusegun Obasanjo and self-styled "father of modern Nigeria" received a rude shock today in Okuku, Osun state when the former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose confronted him and called him "father of bastards". It would be the second time since leaving office under controversial circumstances in 2007 that the former head of state would be publicly ridiculed.

Last month, an irate Nigerian rained blows on him after he managed to sneak into his car in traffic shortly after Obasanjo arrived from a foreign trip.

Fayose met Obasanjo at the inner recesses of deposed governor of the state, Olagunsoye Oyinlola's mansion in Okuku after a "thanksgiving service" in done in his honor by friends and family.

The former president was sitting with former military dictator, Ibrahim Babanginda, Governor of Oyo state, Alao Akala and Gbenga Daniel of Ogun state when Fayose breezed into the reception area. Fayose walked in and greeted  everyone but skipped Obasanjo, according to eyewitness accounts but when Fayose was about to sit down Obasanjo called out his name and asked why he ignored him, asking if it was an error on his part, but an enraged Fayose turned to Obasanjo and said he cannot greet someone who is very bad!

"You created all these troubles in the sSouthwest and also for your information, I did not come here as a member of your party, I am no longer a PDP member," Fayose shouted.
Speaking further and inching towards Obasanjo, Fayose told him that he didn't deserve his greeting and warned Obasanjo never to talk to him again.

Obasanjo flew in rage and called Fayose a "naughty person", this further infuriated Fayose, who moved menacingly towards Obasanjo, waved his finger in his face and called him the "father of bastards".

As soon the situation became chaotic, Fayose stormed of the reception area and was heard cursing Obasanjo and he walked away in anger.

The celebrant, Oyinlola, ran after him and wept complaining that Fayose came to disrupt his joyous occasion.

http://www.saharareporters.com/news-page/former-president-obasanjo-humiliated-fayose-oyinlolas-thanksgiving-event-okuku-0

I’m not planning to abandon Atiku – IBB

Dec 5, 2010

By Kingsley Omonobi

ABUJA—Former military Head of State and the losing contender to the candidate of the Northern elders forum in the consensus arrangement, General Ibrahim Babangida, has expressed disaffection over claims making the rounds that he had jettisoned the option to run the 2011 elections.
Babangida’s reaction came even as he reiterated that “his call for respect of the provisions of the PDP constitution as regards zoning still stands and must be respected by all members who subscribe to the party.”
Media reports had insinuated that General Babangida was making a U-turn because the consensus option had collapsed and that in deference to his supporters, he was bowing to pressures from his associates, friends, political allies and followers to take a shot at the presidential election.
However, the former military president in a statement by his spokesman, Kassim Afegbua, said: “To state the obvious, General IBB is not contemplating jettisoning the consensus option because the rationale for the consensus, in the first place, is still very much in place.

“Members of the IBB 2011 Presidential Campaign Organisation are already being accommodated in the amalgamated Atiku Campaign Organisation to give the necessary support to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the forthcoming PDP primaries.”

Advising the media to be very thorough and profound in their news reportage, the statement said they (journalists) must at all times cross check their facts and figures in order not to mislead members of the public who rely on their news item for one purpose or the other, pointing out that “there was no marathon’ meeting in Kano, Kaduna, Minna and Lagos over the purported plan to jettison the consensus arrangement.
“We also wish to state that in as much as we appreciate the support, endorsement and open invitation of the leadership of the National Democratic Party, NDP, towards General IBB, there has never been any platform where formal dialogue was entered into,” Afegbua said.

“Before now, the National Democratic Party has been in support of the presidential aspiration of the former President that is why we do not see its present support as something new”.
Continuing the statement said, “Former President General Babangida appreciates the overwhelming support being extended to him by distinguished Nigerians; home and abroad, and feels very strongly that the quest for the leadership of the country was not a personal and self-serving desire, but one that was borne out of altruistic and patriotic intentions to help rescue the country from its present economic and political morass.

“As a distinguished Nigerian and a gentleman officer, he is of the considered view that democracy cannot flourish if all the essential ingredients are not well garnished to provide opportunity for all with equal access to the levers of power.

“He is of the opinion that rule of law, as a cardinal principle of democracy, cannot be circumvented in a manner that tends to undermine the stability and unity of the country”.

“Nobody should assume the role of an unauthorized spokesman for the erstwhile campaign organisation of General IBB. Should there be need to give any further directive, we will use the appropriate organs to do so.

“The ideas, perspectives, viewpoints and dimensions insinuated in the report are not that of General Ibrahim Babangida or his campaign organisation. Our followers and supporters have been properly directed and briefed”, the statement said.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/12/im-not-planning-to-abandon-atiku-ibb/

Lagos attains 92% literacy rate

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5649778-146/lagos_attains_92_literacy_rate_.csp

December 5, 2010 02:16AM


The Lagos State Agency for Mass Education on Friday said that no fewer than 17, 447, 905 inhabitants of the metropolis, which has an approximate population of 18, 965, 114 people, are literate.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the figure represents 92 percent of the population, compared to 1,517,209 illiterate people, representing 8 percent.

Benedict Adebisi, the director of the agency, told NAN in Lagos that the statistics originated from a recent survey by the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education.

Mr. Adebisi said that compared to most other states of the federation, the literacy rate in Lagos was impressive.

“The state has been able to achieve this low illiteracy rate owing to the commitment of the government and the promotion of education among the illiterate population in the past 10 years,” he said.

The director explained that the feat was achieved through the establishment of many literacy centres in the metropolis to widen access and provide appropriate literacy materials.

“No fewer than 401,000 new literate people have been produced in the state within the period,” Mr. Adebisi said.

He reiterated the commitment of the state to attaining and even surpassing the UN Education for All target of 50 percent reduction in illiteracy rate by 2015.

To achieve this and even attain zero illiteracy by the target year, the director said that the agency had evolved strategies to produce no fewer than 3000 new literate people in each of the 57 local council development areas of the state.

“This is on the proviso that there is no influx of illiterate population into the state from the other states of the federation,” he said.

Mr. Adebisi said that to actualise the target, the agency is collaborating with religious organisations, NGOs, and community-based organisations to deliver adult education to learners.

The director, however, said that the agency was handicapped by inadequate funding, as well as logistics. He explained that the agency lacked such facilities as boats, life jackets, and vehicles that could enable the agency to penetrate the mainly illiterate rural and coastal areas of the state.

He commended the federal government for the timely release of funds to aid the agency’s work, and implored the Lagos State government to increase its funding of the agency.



Posted by Lagosian on Dec 05 2010
This is impossible! With the numbers in rural Lagos and the number of illiterate elderly we have and add the number of migrants who are largely dependent on getting educated in Lagos, it is clear this number is flawed. It would be great if these numbers were accurate but at this point its just - wishful thinking. 92% indeed, even nations with more advanced educational systems can't boast of 92%. Show us your numbers. Show.The.Darn.Numbers!!! Recent Survey my hat.


Posted by Onari on Dec 05 2010
92% literacy! Mr. Adebisi are you serious? you need to cut back on what ever your poison is. not everybody is a mushroom. seriously!! so what is lagos doing that the rest of the states are not doing? religious orgs, NGOs and community-based orgs? what is the benchmark. this story is full of double talk and holes and very pathetic. we have a very long way to go. NEXT, spare your readers the embarassment please.


Posted by Truck Pusher on Dec 05 2010
this is laughable, my favorite molue conductor, still yells and curses in Yoruba and pidgin,


Posted by Olajide on Dec 05 2010
@All: Being literate does not necessarily mean the ability to understand English. It simply means the ability to read & write in any language. @Truck Pusher: Your Molue conductor will most likely be able to read his pidgin or haven't you been seeing them with local tabloids like 'Alaroye' (Yoruba tabloid). Let's for once appreciate what we've got.


Posted by Jrock on Dec 05 2010
@Olajide: Thank you very much for pointing out cogent fact! Many Yoruba speakers can actually read and write in the language. Sadly, many will readily associate illiteracy with the inability to speak English. We need to get rid of this mindset and focus on teaching native speakers how to read and write in their own language or in Pidgin. That's the only way we can reach the adult population.


Posted by Lol on Dec 05 2010
LOL


Posted by Dayo on Dec 05 2010
@ Olajide and JRock, thank you. Heck, I have met many native English people that can barely speak the language (and I do not mean regional accents like cockney, scouser or geordie) and are still counted as literate. Having said that however, ANY STATISTICAL FIGURES CITED WRT NIGERIA (WHETHER GOOD OR BAD) IS OFTEN INHERENTLY UNRELIABLE! As we presently lack the institustional and infrastructural capacity to accurately collect and collate figures here in Nigeria.

By Azu Robert-Mary

December 03, 2010

JONATHAN’S SURRENDER TO SMUGGLERS

President Goodluck Jonathan’ decision to lift the ban on the importation of items that local industries in Nigeria have capacities to produce should worry every Nigerian. The previously prohibited items include cassava, furniture, toothpicks and textile materials including African prints. The president’s decision and the reasons he has so far offered for it on his face book page are daft, unwise and dangerous for four reasons.

First, the president misdirected himself when he reasoned that Nigerian corrupt and incompetent custom services will receive increase revenue through legitimate importation of these items. Perhaps, the president needs to be reminded that these items were banned, ab initio,not because they were cheaper to be produced here, but to keep our people gainfully employed and protect our industries from unnecessary competition. It seems Jonathan has chosen to escalate the unemployment crisis, currently at 20 percent by official estimate, for little more than increased revenue for corrupt and inefficient Nigerian custom service. At a time many industries are taking away Nigerian jobs to neighbouring Ghana because of high cost of production, mainly power costs, Jonathan has chosen to increase the challenges for already struggling local industries.

At a time when high level of youth unemployment, have forced millions away to distant lands and reduced a large number of those left behind to militants, kidnappers and political urchins, you had expected the government to look for creative ways of reducing these tragedies. Rather what we see is an unwarranted assault on local industries capable of escalating the unemployment crisis in the country.

Does it not worry Jonathan, that when a Nigerian buys imported toothpick or cassava or textile materials in place of the locally manufactured one in the market, that Nigerian is paying for someone’s wage in faraway China. While at the same time running down the local manufacturer who simply cannot compete with the Chinese where cost of production is far too cheaper.

Daily, thousands of containers reach our ports and leaves empty (thus doubling the importation costs)because of dense government policies. Yet we wonder why our balance of trade with most countries is in deficit.

Secondly, Jonathan claims that the ban have not been effective since the items are been smuggled into the country on a daily basis. Really? May be he should also unban dangerous weapons that are also being smuggled into the country, since that is his unique answer to border security. It seems Jonathan cannot protect our borders as Commander in chief of Nigeria’s armed forces. It is pretty clear that his government is admitting defeat to smugglers and a president who cannot protect our borders cannot be trusted to lead a nation that faces daily threats of internal implosion.

Thirdly, for a cash cow quango like the Nigerian Custom services that announces billions upon billions of revenue annually, it’s hard to convince any Nigerian that we should risk the jobs that will be affected by this ill thought out policy reversal, just so that they could declare more profits. Nigerians are yet to see where the considerable revenue of the custom service goes to.

Fourthly, given that the protectionist policy have been there for years now, does it not worry Jonathan, that all the sacrifice the nation had made in the past to protect jobs and local industries in those sectors are now in vain.

http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/articles/guest-articles/jonathans-surrender-to-smugglers.html

Written by Tunga Lergo

Friday, 03 December 2010 22:54

A Novena For Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa of Kaduna State

Kaduna’s state governor, Patrick Yakowa, has been in office for six months and his leadership style can now be seen. He exudes a gentle, cautious personality, sometimes boarding on apology. Some may say this is a typical leadership style for people from ethnic minorities, or perhaps it is political calculation meant to win public acceptance in the upcoming election in 2011. Whatever the case, Governor Yakowa has sought public acceptance and validation whenever he has had an opportunity, as both his inaugural address and his announcement of his candidacy for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) show. However, his vast administrative experience, his insider status at the helm of the state governance, and his education as a sociologist have put him in a good position to lead and he does not need public validation to run the state. Without a doubt, he is the most qualified person, military or civilian, since amalgamation to govern the state. It is troubling, then, that he must always publicly assure people of his intention to be transparent in his governance.

I wonder how many times his immediate predecessors, Namade Sambo and Ahmad Markafi, or those before them had to seek public validation? Governor Yakowa should not be arrogant, but he should not be timid, either. He makes the claim that he became governor by divine fate. By claiming this, he takes away both the power and responsibility of his position. Would his predecessors have claimed to have became governors because of ethnic or religious fate? It seems unlikely because to do so is to apologize for becoming governor, as if one has no control over one’s destiny.

Governor Yakowa should stop apologizing. True, the story of his rise to power has elements of chance to it (he became deputy governor after the death of his predecessor, and became governor the same way), but he is qualified for the role. The governor’s mental and administrative energies should be geared toward governance and the 2011 election and not on justifying his right to govern.

I don’t fault the governor for assuring people of the state that he is harmless and capable. I am only concerned that he feels he has to do so. Suffering from the psychological marginalization that is common to ethnic minorities, the governor has worked harder and has more educational and experiential qualifications than others, and he has taken every opportunity to be seen as non-threatening to the majority ethnic or religious groups in order to be accepted. Yet, despite all this he still may not win in 2011. There is still doubt that the majority ethnic and religious groups will give him that opportunity. Some of the governor’s supporters fear that what happened to Isaiah Balat during the PDP primaries may happen to Yakowa.

In the speech declaring his candidacy for the PDP, the governor claimed: “I have had enough time since I took over power to understand the strengths and challenges of our state.” In fact, his experience extends well beyond his most recent position. He has extensive experience working for the state, the region, and the nation, and was deputy for over five years and under two state regimes. I thought he was ready to go as soon as his hands were placed on the plough. Don’t sell yourself short, governor. You have long understood the “strengths and challenges of our state.”

His understanding of the state is best seen in his actions. In his six months in office he has delivered balanced administrative appointments and increased the minimum wage. He has continue to subsidize Muslim hajj, fed Muslims during Ramadan, and just in case the Christians felt left behind, he gave nine million naira to both Christian and Muslim religious organizations; and has recently toured all the local governments in the state. Governor Yakowa is working hard to make sure his tenancy continues for the next four years.

To be fair, Yakowa has no choice but to work hard. One of the many obstacles he faces is the belief by some Muslims that religion should not be separate from the state, and that Muslims should not be ruled by non-Muslims. When Yar’Adua died and Namadi Sambo was appointed Vice-President of the country and by default when it seemed Yakowa was to become Governor, some Muslims began grumbling that it was haraam or forbidden for a Christian to be governor of the state. It took moderates, such as the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammed Sa'adu Abubakar, and former military governor of Kaduna state, Colonel Abubakar Umar, to explain that Islam tolerates non-Muslims in leadership positions. The Sultan publicly proclaimed that Muslims can be ruled by non-Muslims, and Colonel Umar suggested that anyone who did not want to be governed by a non-Muslim could pack his or her bag and leave town.

While things seem to have settled for now, it is a long, rough way to the elections of 2011. First Governor Yakowa must secure his party’s nomination. This may come as early as December and should be easy, as his party has already endorsed his candidacy and he is already in office. There is party stalwart Alhaji Hunkuyi to be considered, but Hunkuyi is less of an issue than the political dealings of the major ethnic group in his party. The governor should remember Isaiah Balat’s mistake of being too trusting of his inner circle, and he should sleep with one eye open. As Claude de Villars wrote, “God save me from my friends. I can protect myself from my enemies.” It may seem to many that the governor has his party nomination wrapped up, but the primaries in December may shock him as they did Senator Balat.

Even with his party’s support, the governor must still win the election in 2011. He will need votes from the three senatorial districts: Kaduna North, Kaduna Central, and Kaduna South. These are all strongholds of the PDP, and all three have senators who are PDP members: Ahmad Markafi (Kaduna North), Mohammed Kabiru Jibril (Kaduna Central), and Caleb Zagi (Kaduna South). If Governor Yakowa were a Hausa-Fulani Muslim, then I would not be writing this article because he would have both party and ethnic support. However, this is not the case. Although Kaduna South, the governor’s home district, is nearly eighty percent PDP, it would be unwise for the governor to take the district for granted. Some factions from the district have already endorsed ex-senator Mohammed Aruwa, who is the potential candidate for the remnant of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP). It is unlikely that Aruwa offers any real threat to Yakowa, but he could make victory difficult. Yakowa must convince voters in his home district that although he has not done much for the area in his few months in office, he will have four years to make it up to them.

Victory for him in Kaduna Central is not a sure thing, either. The demographics favor the governor, as there are substantial ethnic minorities who will vote for the governor. But it is a highly contested terrain and should not be taken for granted. Kaduna Central is Mohammed Aruwa’s home district, and if he wins his party’s nomination, which is likely, he could make things difficult for the governor.

The governor will simply have to sweat it out in Kaduna North. It is less heterogeneous than the other districts and has a large concentration of Hausa-Fulani Muslims, a group that enjoys power in the state and is not likely to give it up. The district does have a large population of ethnic settlers, but the numbers are not high enough to assure the governor an easy win. Luckily, the governor has three friends in the district, who may help him win the votes he needs. Vice-President Namadi Sambo (whom the governor calls his “boss”) is a son of the soil, as is Senator Ahmad Markafi, under whom Governor Yakowa was deputy governor. It is rumored that Governor Yakowa has a friend in the Emir of Zaria, but it must be mentioned that ex-senator Isaiah Balat also counted the Emir as a friend, and it did not help him to advance his campaign.

There is an opponent in Kaduna North who Governor Yakowa should not ignore. The charismatic Zaria politician, Honorable Sani Mohammed Sha’aban, was elected three times under the ANPP to the National House of Representatives and is now a sure candidate under the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), a break away faction of the ANPP. In 2007, he ran for governor only to spend a lot of effort and money contesting the election results in court. He lost his battle and may be too exhausted to be a threat in 2011. But he can still pose a problem for Yakowa and not only in Kaduna North, where he is loved, but in Kaduna South, where he recently toured and was fairly well received.

Honorable Sha’aban represents a new generation of Northern Muslims that includes Ribadu, Rufai, and Colonel Umar who follow in the footsteps of Professor Bala Usman by bringing a global perspective to Nigerian politics. They continue to hold onto their Muslim religion but understand and respect the diversity of Nigeria. They are engaged in the political and religious deconstruction of Nigeria as they seek to move away from the template of northern caliphate, which sees political discourse and polices through ethno-religion centrism. Sha’aban’s major obstacle, however, is that despite inroads into Southern Kaduna and the backing of General Buhari, the CPC barely registers in the political discourse of Kaduna State. Though he may win his district, if only because he is Hausa-Fulani Muslim, it will be a long way to Kashim Ibrahim House.

With these obstacles to overcome in 2011, Governor Yakowa has no choice but to be politically cautious. As soon as it became apparent that he would succeed Namadi Sambo, he began to allay the fears of Muslims and assure them that he would govern with fairness. In his inauguration speech, he announced “I am not a Christian governor,” and during Ramadan, he ordered the state to provide food for the breaking of the fast. On a side note, it is rather peculiar that the governor must declare that he is not a Christian governor. No other governor has ever made such declaration. It will be a fine day, indeed, when a candidate is judged by the fairness of his policies and the spirit of social justice he brings to the office rather than his religion or ethnicity.

There are many interests to appease, however, and the governor should proceed with caution. Southern Kaduna and Christians in the state have long complained of marginalization, and they are still angry that Noble Prize winner, Professor Andrew Nok, was awarded then denied the position of the head of Ahmadu Bello University. When he was the deputy governor, Yakowa denied that there was marginalization, but now that he is himself governor, he seems to want to adjust his position. He has stated that equity in the state is one of his concerns, and making it his campaign slogan might go a long way to his victory.

Yakowa stated on the occasion of his declaration of his candidacy: “I have surveyed the landscape, I have assessed the challenges as well as the possibilities and come to the conclusion that I can [continue to] contribute to the growth and development of our state [for the next four years].” One wishes him well in his pursuit of the office, but now that it seems his nomination is secure, he must look at all the workings of the political machinery of Nigeria. The northern caliphate is seeking to evict President Jonathan Goodluck from Aso Rock in 2011, and in their eyes President Goodluck and Governor Yakowa are two sides of the same coin. If they are unsuccessful in evicting Goodluck from Aso Rock, they may extend extra effort to see that Yakowa no longer occupies Kashim Ibrahim House.

The presidential election will come before the governor’s elections, so Yakowa may have a hard run in the final months to the election. But such is the reality of a politician, and one must embrace each obstacle and struggle as it comes. In the words of Mother Terrace of Calcutta: “If you are successful, you may win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.” Rest assured, Governor Yakowa, there are many well wishers who believe that Kaduna State needs a governor who can stand for change, and some will even make a novena for your success in 2011. I will join them.



Tunga Lergo is a Sociology professor teaching at Santa Fe College, Gainesville, Florida

http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/articles/guest-articles/a-novena-for-governor-patrick-ibrahim-yakowa-of-kaduna-state.html

I Remain North’s Consensus Choice, Says Atiku


SUNDAY, 05 DECEMBER 2010 00:00 FROM SAXONE AKHAINE, KADUNA NEWS - NATIONAL


Dismisses Alleged US Congressional Report On Corruption

FORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Saturday dismissed speculations that the Northern Political Leaders Forum (NPLF) may rescind the decision to adopt him as the Northern consensus candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2011 presidential primaries.

Atiku’s clarification came on account of his alleged indictment over corruption by the United States Congress.

There is widespread speculation in the North that the Malam Adamu Ciroma-led committee may rescind its decision on Atiku and opt for either Gen. Ibrahim Babangida or Gen. Aliyu Gusau, as the consensus aspirant for the PDP primaries.

Vice President Namadi Sambo had also said in Kaduna on Friday that the ruling PDP had not recognized the consensus arrangement by Adamu Ciroma and his colleagues.

He said the party relies on the rule of law and would not give room for any exercise that was out of its legitimate purview.

Meanwhile, the President of the Joint Northern Youths Organizations (JNYO), Alhaji Abdullahi Bayero, has warned that unless Arewa leaders put their house in order and forge a united front, the Goodluck/Sambo camp may capitalize on the situation to have a smooth sail in 2011.

He noted that while the Goodluck/Sambo camp was capable of getting bulk votes from the South, the Northern votes might be fragmented along various interests and groups.

However, Atiku, while reacting to the corruption allegation, said he was the only person that was really prepared for the Presidency of Nigeria in 2011.

He debunked the speculation on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Hausa Service, monitored in Kaduna yesterday, stressing that the US Congress never said he stole money and his money was not legitimate.

He also stated that nobody had stopped him from entering the United States, as he could travel to the country anytime he wanted.

Said he: “I was there (USA) two years ago and as soon as I complete doing the things before me, I will be traveling there. It is because of my family that I always go there.”

According to Atiku, the responsibility bestowed on him, by his choice as the Northern consensus candidate, was not only for the North, but also for the entire nation.

He also commented on the rally staged in Kaduna by a group of Northern youths against his choice by the Ciroma committee, saying that it was their opinion, which they were entitled to.

Atiku, however, noted that the majority of the northerners, which include many youths in the region, were not in tune with their opinion.

“It is normal in politics to face opposition, especially when there was an election, that has always been the tradition,” he said.

On Governor Isa Yuguda’s echoing of Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s snide remarks about his choice, Atiku said the duo and himself were at variance politically and their reactions shouldn’t be a surprise.

Also on Governor Godswill Akpabio’s remarks that the former Vice President would have to face another committee within the PDP to authenticate his membership of the party, Atiku said the National Chairman of the PDP had taken care of that.

He advised the governor to read the constitution of the PDP and respect its supremacy.

On why he was seen waving a broom, which is the symbol of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the party he dumped for the PDP, he said that was part of the campaign and that he was simply recalling the history of his political journey so far.

“When I waved the broom, didn’t I wave with an umbrella? Who are those who fixed the umbrella?”

“I did not turn my back on the PDP’ I was forced to leave the party; I was forcefully removed. But is it a thing of surprise if I decided to return to the house I left?

“Go back to history and see how I was chased out of the PDP. Why can’t I return to the house I built (PDP)? Doesn’t I have the right politically or I don’t have the right to free association?

“Don’t you know that our laws have allowed us to leave the party and return whenever we so desire? I know I have my ideology in politics.”

Atiku said when the time comes, those who have the power to decide would choose between him and President Goodluck Jonathan, to know who would fly the flag of the PDP in the 2011 presidential election.

Insisting he was sure of winning the ticket, he said if he became President in 2011, he would improve on the power situation in the country, make education accessible, take care of the problem in the Niger Delta and build good roads among others.

He said he had enumerated when and how he would achieve these objectives.

The promised to solve the perennial problem in the Niger Delta and that of Boko Haram, which had its root in poverty and unemployment bedeviling the society.

http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31376:i-remain-norths-consensus-choice-says-atiku-&catid=1:national&Itemid=559

Senator Bola Tinubu backs Sanusi Lamidi Sanusi

NewsDec 5, 2010
By Daniel Eteghe Lagos

Following the in sistence of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria Sanusi Lamidi Sanusi that 25 per cent of the nation’s overhead cost was spent by the National Assembly last Thursday when he appeared before the various committees on the Senate and House of Representative, the Former Governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Tinubu, yesterday commended Sanusi for his doggedness, stressing that he respected him for holding firm to his position.
Speaking to aviation correspondents at the Murtala Mohammed Airport Lagos, Tinubu noted that the fact on ground was that members of the National Assembly were busy appropriating money for themselves without any anybody questioning them which was in violation with the codes of the ethics of the National Assembly.
“Nigerians must be able to call them to question not only at the polls but at the expense of the poor, at the expense of our infrastructure, at the expense of job creation. They should call them to question, I respect Sanusi’s figure, if he has made a mistake of not standing by that data, any data from him in future will never be respected and this is the man that is in charge of regulatory agencies that impact on our economy seriously“ he affirmed.
He further stressed that the economy was tattered as a result of the misappropriation of funds that may ends up in furthering corruption and as well as making Nigeria citizens to become impoverish.
“The economy is in tatters, why shouldn’t they, who is auditing them, who is auditing all the moneys that they have been taking. I have even on good authority that they even get as far as participating in the implementation of the budget before something is approved and you have the instances where the government will say this is how much it wants to spend and arbitrarily we increase it in order to justify their increase for themselves who is the check and balances of financial integrity of the house“ he added.
While answering questions on the ground that Sanusi’s move could jeopardize in Nigeria, he said“ Which jeopardize, who are the ones misappropriating the money, if I am in charge of the custody of your values of grains I am the seller and I can take as much as I want for myself and my family and leave the rest for the rest of the community or the town, we elected them to make laws we didn’t elect business men in fact they have been dragging us to the stage that we will look for men and women of financial capacity who can legislate for us on a per time basis“
“You see they are driving us to a stage where people will not respect this democracy, we have to check them, they are becoming a treat to our democracy, you can appropriate money for yourself and nobody can question you, nobody can raise alarm, nobody can call attention to the needs of the country that is the danger, it is very dangerous to democratic institutions and projects.
Some of the auditors to the NA, to whom did they report if the auditor general of a nation speaks they will attack him, if the accountant general speaks, they will attack him, if the minister of finance speaks, the will attack him. With that there is a dictatorship tendency in violation of the fundamental rights of the peoples’ right to speak their mind and this is dangerous to our democracy so they are the one threatening our democracy “ he stated.

Aregbesola inauguration: Opening floodgate of probes in Osun

By TUNDE ODESOLA
Sunday, 5 Dec 2010


With the change of leadership in Osun State, TUNDE ODESOLA writes that the new governor, Rauf Aregbesola, has a lot of contentious projects executed by his predecessor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, to look into


Damocles was a courtier in the palace of King Dionysius II of Syracuse, Italy. Lusting after power and royalty, Damocles exclaimed that Dionysius was truly fortunate. But the king, in an attempt to teach the courtier a lesson, offered to switch position with him. Damocles jumped at the offer and he was placed on the throne. In his majesty, Damocles, while on the throne in a fleeting moment, savours royalty but when he looked up to view the ceilings, he saw a huge sword held at the tip by a single hair of horse tail hanging above his head!


The Sword of Damocles fell on the three and a half years old administration of Okuku-born Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola on November 26, 2010 when justice flooded Osun State like a rolling river as an Appeal Court in Ibadan, Oyo State, swept the torn and tattered umbrella of the Osun Peoples Democratic Party away. A five-member panel of judges led by Justice Clara Bata Ogunbiyi, including Justices Mohammed Lawal Garba, Paul Adamu Galinje, Chima Centus Nweze, and Adamu Jauro, after a five-hour judgement, returned a unanimous verdict that the April 14, 2007 governorship election in the state was characterised by violence and fraud. The judges ruled that the Action Congress of Nigeria governorship candidate, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, is the winner of the election.


Before the verdict, there had been some topical political issues over which both the then opposition party and the ruling party sharply differed. One of the areas is the acquisition of an N18.38bn loan obtained by the defunct administration of Oyinlola. The ACN had objected to the acquisition of the loan by Oyinlola and described it as a conduit created to siphon public funds. In paid advertorials and news conferences, the Osun ACN had called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission to investigate the circumstances surrounding the loan. The ACN had warned that it would not repay the loan if it eventually wrestled power from the PDP. Aregbesola, in an interview, had faulted the loan, saying it was callous, scandalous and irritating.


He said, ”How can a state as poor as Osun obtain a loan of N18.38bn with a monthly repayment interest and capital charges of N620m? This means that the state will pay N1.4bn yearly on the loan. The loan is repayable in three years. Here is a state that borrows between N900m and N120m monthly to pay workers salaries and pensions. Can you imagine how the loan was disbursed? I will tell you; the loan was disbursed without the commencement of the projects earmarked. Isn‘t that absurd and wicked? How can you disburse money upfront before a project is done? I constructed gigantic projects in Lagos without mobilising Julius Berger. Lagos State paid after the job was satisfactorily done. If not for ulterior motive and going by the remaining months in their tenure, only N3bn should have been disbursed so far but they have disbursed N12bn. The projects they obtained the loans for are worthless. They say they want to build six stadia; where are the stadia? On every naira the state government is spending on the loan, it is gaining four per cent and losing 14 per cent. What is the sense in that?


Another contentious issue the ACN faulted before it got to power was the bomb blast allegation in which a serving Magistrate, Mr Ayo Oyebiyi, and many ACN members were incarcerated. Some explosives had gone off inside a grey colour Peugeot 505 on June 14, 2007 at the Governor‘s Office Secretariat, Abere, disemboweling an occupant simply named Tunde. Another occupant, Richard Adesanmi, lost an eye to the blast while the third occupant identified simply as Henry fled the scene. The case is still in court as at the time the Oyinlola administration was nullified.


On a number of occasions, the ACN also faulted the construction of drug manufacturing company, in Osogbo, which was commenced but never completed in more than six years. Addressing various news conferences, the ACN alleged that the project was a conduit by which the former government was draining public funds. Defending the projects, however, Oyinlola said the machines needed for the firm have been imported and only needed installation. The former governor also said that drugs to be manufactured by the firm would be customised. The company, which has been under lock and key, is home to rodents and weed. Oyinlola said the firm would be completed very soon.


The lab-less kit project the Oyinlola administration embarked upon to equip Osogbo Technical College, Osogbo, has come under intense criticism with the opposition party alleging that the project is retrogressive. In a recent interview before he became governor, Aregbesola said, ”How can a serious government purchase lab-less kits in this decade when Chief Obafemi Awolowo, in the 1950s, equipped all laboratories in the south-west? Lab-less kits are used in situation where there are no kits. Why can‘t we equip our laboratories? Why do we need to buy lab-less kits?”


Other contentious issues between the ACN and the PDP are the Akoda to Kwara boundary road, which unfortunately did not go beyond Old Garage area in Osogbo, and the multi million naira machines for Osun State printing press supplied by a PDP topnotch. The machines did not work for six months before they packed up. The Ido Osun aerodrome which the state government promised to revive never got off the ground despite yearly budgetary assurances just as the ACN said that the various water projects by the Oyinlola-led administration did not serve the masses more than three months. Also contentious was the contract award of Osun State Five-Star Hotel, Abere, whose multi million naira transfer to a foreign firm generated much hoopla. The hotel, which the Oyinlola government initially partnered with a South African firm to develop, was later demolished despite the fact that the state government had spent a fortune to develop it.


A passionate issue, which the Aregbesola government will not gloss over, is the alleged rape of a secondary school student in Ilesa, (name withheld), by suspected PDP thugs on April 15, 2010. Some PDP leaders and supporters in Ilesa, among who are, Chief Gani Oladiran and the Chairman, Ilesa-West Local Government Council, Mr Ibukun Fadipe, have been charged to court over the alleged crime. The teenager was admitted and treated at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Osogbo. The killing of the Chairman, DHL Nigeria Limited, Chief Ade Komolafe, is another case over which the ACN and the PDP disagreed sharply with the Osun ACN describing the PDP as a nest of killers.


Commenting on the allegation that some members of the former government stole brand-new cars from Government House, Oke-Fia, - upon the annulment of the Oyinlola administration - the Chief Press Secretary to Oyinlola, Mr. Lasisi Olagunju, said cars being driven in or out of Government House were driven by government drivers, adding that government has a record for all its vehicles.


Although Aregbesola has repeatedly warned ACN members in the state against retaliating alleged injustices they sustained during the PDP era, it appears that his government might ruffle some feathers in the bid to put some records straight.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201012050521376

VC resigns over Ogun controversial bond
By FRANCIS FALOLA
Sunday, 5 Dec 2010


The Vice-Chancellor of the Crescent University Abeokuta, Prof. Sherifdeen Tella, has resigned his appointment as the institution‘s helmsman, allegedly on the account of the Ogun State controversial bond saga.


Tella, who confirmed this on Saturday, said the resignation takes effect from Monday.


He said, ”You will recall that I sent a letter to Ogun State House of Assembly on May 24, 2010 to the effect that the House should not approve the request for N50bn loan for government to offset existing loan unless for development.


“I have since been facing threats and intimidation from government officials. My employer, Prince Bola Ajibola, made public apology on behalf of himself and his university. I refused to do the same, hence, the pressure that he should sack me; but I now opt to resign.”


He stated that he was given a choice between public apology and renouncing his position on the bond issue or keeping his job in the university and at the State University, Ago Iwoye.


He said, “The choice was between public apology and renouncing my opinion on the bond issue to keep my job in Crescent University and OOU; or maintain my stand and lose the two.


”I opted to resign from Crescent University and return to OOU where Governor Gbenga Daniel is the Visitor and get ready for battle of survival.”


Efforts to get the reaction of the founder of the university, Prince Ajibola on the VC‘s resignation failed, as he did not respond to the many calls and text message sent to his phone by our correspondent.


The state, it will be recalled, wanted to obtain a N50bn bond, an action that attracted strong criticisms from citizens of the state, including the vice-chancellor.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201012052583325

DEEPENING DEMOCRACY: Lawless legislature

By Jibrin Ibrahim
December 5, 2010 02:06AMT


The controversy between the National Assembly, the governor of the Central Bank, Lamido Sanusi Lamido and the nation this week poses a fundamental question of our ability to sustain our democracy in a context in which the law makers have clearly become the major law breakers in the nation. In my view, Sanusi is absolutely right to caution an institution that is irresponsibly consuming in a lawless manner such a huge chunk of our annual expenditure. The debate over percentages is however not the issue.

Section 32(D) of the Third Schedule of the Nigerian Constitution gives the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission the powers to fix the remuneration of all public officers including legislators. The Commission has done its work. The Commission has fixed total remuneration for senators including all allowances at N950,000. The senators have multiplied their monthly income by a factor of 18 and now take N18 million a month.

The total remuneration fixed for a member of the House of Representatives is N794,000 a month. They have raised it illegally to N15million a month. In addition to these illegal payments, our legislators also pay themselves huge sitting allowances for committee work, which is illegal as committee work is part of their normal functions that should not require further payments. It is these reckless and illegal increases in remuneration that have escalated their overheads to N136 billion this year.

In addition to these illegalities, there are stories of massive fraud through contracts. When Dino Melaye and his colleagues drew the attention of the nation to the N9 billion fraud in the House of Representatives, they were suspended indefinitely by the House leadership. On 2nd December, Justice Adamu Bello ruled the suspension was illegal and ordered their immediate return to the House.

Currently, the National Assembly is reviewing the Electoral Act 2010 to make themselves automatic members of the National Executive Committees of their respective political parties. Their objective is to use the law to take over control of their political parties so that they can transform themselves into a permanent mafia controlling Nigerian politics without challenge. Now that it is clear to all Nigerians that the purpose of their actions is self-serving, it is imperative that they are stopped in their reckless drive to destroy Nigerian democracy.

It is also clear that the main reason the current National Assembly has refused to pass the Freedom of Information Bill is that they are determined that nobody can obtain official information on the massive amounts of money they are paying themselves. Official information will make it easy to demonstrate in court that they are violating the Constitutional provision that their total emoluments should be restricted to what is approved by the body empowered to do so. They are therefore conscious of the illegality of their action and have developed strategies to perpetuate the rape of the national treasury.

I am conscious that legislatures are the most powerful institutions in democratic regimes for a very simple reason. Legislatures are the only institutions with the power to create other powers. They have the powers to make laws through which they create new commissions and agencies, enact public policy and determine public expenditure through the process of appropriation laws. In democratic theory therefore, the powers of legislatures are at least as important, if not more important than the powers of executives.

Indeed, the theory of representative democracy is constructed on the pivotal role played by legislators, who have been elected by the people to represent them at the level of law making for the society. This is where the Nigerian reality deviates from the theory. Our legislators are not focused on serving the interests of the people; their actions are self-serving. Secondly, the 2007 elections were so massively rigged that is clear that many of them do not have the legitimacy derived from being genuinely elected by the people.

It is therefore not surprising that they have largely abdicated their responsibilities for law making to enhance the good governance of the country. They are indeed holding the country to ransom and abusing their powers excessively. They do have oversight powers over the Executive. They have however used this power recklessly to call ministers and heads of public institutions that provide information they consider embarrassing to abuse and ridicule them in public. The way in which they shouted at and harassed the governor of the Central Bank is clearly an abuse of their powers.

They have consistently disturbed the work schedules of ministers by regularly calling them for interrogation on trivial or self-serving issues. Ministers have an obligation to respond to legislative queries but they do not have to appear in person. They should begin to call the bluff of our irresponsible National Assembly. Above all, they rest of us who are ordinary citizens of this country must ensure that irresponsible legislators are not returned to power through the 2011 elections.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Opinion/Columns/5649816-182/story.csp

ExxonMobil, others disown Emeagwali


By Musikilu Mojeed
December 5, 2010 02:27PM


The bottom has fallen out of Phillip Emeagwali’s basket of false claims. American oil giant, ExxonMobil, has told NEXT exclusively that it has never dealt with the American-based Nigerian scientist, contrary to Mr. Emeagwali’s repeated claim that he wrote the equations that the company used to simulate the flow of oil, water, and gas inside its reservoirs.

Authorities at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, a United States Department of Energy laboratory, where Mr. Emeagwali claimed he sourced the Connection Machine for his award-winning experiment, also said they had never related with the Nigerian scientist.

Even the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, the world’s largest organisation of computer experts, has reacted to the scandal surrounding Mr Emeagwali by removing the scientist’s profile from its website. Mr. Emeagwali’s bio on the site contained some contentious claims, including one that he has a doctorate.

Mr. Emeagwali did not respond to email seeking his comment. He also did not return calls made to his Washington D.C. office.

In 1989, Emeagwali, 56, won the $1,000 prize for writing a programme for oil reservoir modeling. Afterwards,

he travelled around the world for over two decades marketing himself as one of the inventors of the Internet. A gullible Africa believed him, and his native Nigeria lavishly celebrated him as the country’s most influential scientist ever.

But in November, leading American computer experts, including Gordon Bell, the man after whom the prize he won in 1989 was named, exposed Mr. Emeagwali, describing his 20-year claim that his invention gave birth to the Internet as fraudulent.

However, Mr. Emeagwali continued to make other claims which are now considered largely untrue. For instance, in a series of weekly articles he wrote for nigeriavillagesquare.com, Mr. Emeagwali said he “scribbled the actual equations used by the oil company Exxon (now Exxon Mobil) to simulate the flow of oil, water, and gas inside its petroleum reservoirs.” He claimed that after learning about his discovery, Mobil Research and Development invited him (in a letter dated March 19, 1990) to help the company in “reservoir simulation.” Mr Emeagwali added that he discovered that Mobil’s equations did not reflect reality and corrected the company’s error.

But responding to a NEXT inquiry, ExxonMobil simply disowned Mr. Emeagwali. “We are unaware of Mr. Emeagwali’s claimed interaction 20 years ago with a prior affiliate of ExxonMobil,” Patrick McGinn of the Upstream Media Relations Unit of the company, said in an email from the Texas headquarters of the oil firm, after a 10-day investigation within his company.

Initially, Mr. McGinn described Mr. Emeagwali’s claim as speculations to which ExxonMobil Corporation won’t react. But when pressed, he came out to say clearly that his company had no record of ever having dealt with Mr. Emeagwali.

Before ExxonMobil disowned Mr. Emeagwali, Angela Burgess, executive director of IEEE computer society, had informed NEXT that the Nigerian scientist’s profile on her organisation’s website had been removed following doubts about some claims contained therein. Mr. Emeagwali provided the information for the article, which falsely portrayed him as having earned a first degree from the University of London and a doctorate from the University of Michigan.

From the Los Alamos National Laboratory also came another blow for the embattled scientist. Mr. Emeagwali had claimed in a January 2007 TIME magazine article that, through research, he found a “Connection Machine” at the laboratory which had sat unused after scientists had given up on figuring out how to make it simulate nuclear explosions.

Lost in Los Alamos

In 1987, Mr Emeagwali told TIME, he applied for and was given permission to use the machine. He said from his base in Ann Arbor, Michigan, he remotely programmed the machine (in Northern New Mexico) and used it to compute the amount of oil in a simulated reservoir, and perform 3.1 billion calculations per second.

But authorities at the 67-year-old laboratory said the claims were “unsubstantiated - at best.”

“Several current LANL scientists who worked directly on Thinking Machines CM-2 and CM-5 computing system development during that time frame have no recollection of working with Philip Emeagwali,” said Kevin Roark of the Communications Office of the laboratory.

“It is certainly untrue that the computers “sat unused after scientists had given up” on figuring out how to make them work. In fact, the laboratory successfully developed codes for the CM-2 and CM-5 that were very effective for conventional defense calculations and important aspects of nuclear weapon assessments/design.” Meanwhile, a source in the Federal Ministry of Information and Communication said the Minister, Dora Akunyili, was in the process of raising a committee to investigate allegations of fraudulent claims levelled against Mr. Emeagwali.

The source said the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, S.O. Willoughby, might head the committee.

Mrs. Akunyili had told NEXT on November 7 that government will investigate the allegations to enable it to determine whether to remove Mr. Emeagwali’s face from the Nigerian stamp. The minister did not return calls made to her mobile telephone on Friday.



http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/National/5649726-146/exxonmobil_others_disown_emeagwali__.csp